Ukrainian authorities reported on December 20 and 21 that Russian forces entered Hrabovske in the Sumy region (a small rural village southeast of Sumy city along the international border) during the night of December 19 to 20. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and other Russian sources claimed on December 20 and 21 that Russian elements had captured Hrabovske and Vysoke (immediately south of Hrabovske).
The spokesperson for the Central Communications Directorate of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated on December 21 that Ukrainian forces withdrew from several positions near Hrabovske and are working to stabilize the area. Available evidence indicates that Russian forces captured Hrabovske. Russian forces advanced beyond the international border toward Hrabovske under the cover of night and fog. Russian forces also carried out a geographically separate cross-border attack against another small rural border village in the Kharkiv region. Geographic footage published on December 21 shows Russian infantry (approximately two platoons totaling about 15 soldiers) attacking Ukrainian positions in northern Sotnytskyi Kozachok (northwest of Kharkiv city, about 15 kilometers east of Grayvoron in the Belgorod region, and less than half a kilometer from the international border), and a Ukrainian drone unit operating in the border area reported that Ukrainian forces repelled the attack. Much of the Sumy and Kharkiv border area, including the region near Hrabovske, has been dormant since the end of summer 2025. The front line near Sotnytskyi Kozachok has been dormant since the summer of 2024.
Official – The Russian army fully captured Siversk
Russian forces have fully captured Siversk, a city with a population of fewer than 11,000 inhabitants before the war. Russian forces completed the capture of Siversk, advanced to heights west and northwest of Siversk, and reached the chalk quarry west of Siversk. Russian forces still need to advance the 30 kilometers from Siversk to Slovyansk and complete the capture of Lyman before they can launch a direct attack on Slovyansk itself. Russian forces are an immediate threat to the northern part of the Fortress Cities Zone as significant simultaneous advances occur across the theater, resulting in the front line collapsing.
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