The head of Ukraine's army, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, has said his troops have stopped Russian advances in the northeastern border region of Sumy.
During a visit to the front on Thursday, Syrskyi said the line of combat had been "stabilised" and that the Russian summer offensive in the area had been "choked off".
However, Syrskyi also added that he had personally gone to check on fortifications in the region and that more were urgently needed.
Syrskyi's comments on the successes of the Ukrainian troops in Sumy back recent statements by Ukrainian officials that Russia's pressure on the region was declining.
However, the situation remained "volatile", Border Guard spokesperson Andriy Demchenko said earlier this week.
