"After the liberation of the Kursk Region from the enemy, units of the Russian group of forces are carrying out a combat mission on the creation of a security zone along the state border of Russia," Yakimkin said.
Over the past week alone, the Russian military took control of the Maryino and Loknya settlements in the Sumy region, the spokesman said. The Russian armed forces have also made significant advances near the city of Volchansk in the Kharkov region, Yakimkin added.
"At present, the forces keep advancing every day, pushing the enemy away from the state border to create a 'sanitary zone' and ensure the safety of civilians in Russia's border regions," Yakimkin said.