Zelensky told what is happening in Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken at a meeting with journalists about the scale of the Russian grouping on the country's territory and the concentration of forces in key areas.

According to him, there are about 695,000 Russian military personnel in Ukraine now, with almost a quarter of all strikes falling on the Sumy direction - this is where 23 per cent of all bombing and missile attacks are carried out. Zelensky stressed that Sumy region has become a real headache for the occupiers, who are trying to show some success here and in the neighbouring Kharkiv direction.

Over the past week, Russian troops have advanced only 200 metres towards Sumy, but our defenders pushed them back 200-400 metres," Zelensky said.

He also noted that about 52,000 Russian soldiers are concentrated exactly in the Sumy region.

As for Dnipropetrovsk region, the president said that Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups (DRGs) are constantly trying to break through, but so far without success.

The occupiers are trying to create the appearance of success. It is important for them to make photos, videos - that's why they launch small DRGs," Zelensky explained.

Earlier, the head of state reported that the Russian troops tried to create a buffer zone on the Sumy direction, having concentrated there about 50 thousand soldiers. Despite the attempts of the occupiers to occupy the territory, the Ukrainian military successfully restrain the offensive and gradually push back the enemy.

On the Dnipropetrovsk front, despite Russia's statements about withdrawal to the administrative border of the region, the Ukrainian army refutes these reports and holds its positions.