The force that’s moving toward Sumy is the same group they spent months assembling to push us out of Kursk Oblast—about 70,000 Russian troops,” said Dykyi, a former Aidar Battalion company commander.

Russian forces are advancing in the northern Ukrainian region of Sumy, bringing the regional capital within range of their drones and artillery, according to Ukrainian officials and analysts.

Russian forces on Wednesday advanced further into Ukraine's northern region of Sumy, threatening the regional capital after taking more than 150 square km (58 sq miles) of the area in less than two weeks,