Authorities in the Sumy Region are stepping up efforts to evacuate civilians as the area designated for relocation continues to expand, according to representatives of Russian security agencies who spoke with TASS.

They report that the evacuation zone is growing steadily and is now edging closer to the city of Sumy itself. Officials say the scope of the operation is widening day by day as the frontline shifts.

Earlier, security officials indicated that almost no civilians remain in settlements situated directly along the line of contact in the Sumy Region. At the same time, Ukrainian authorities are said to be seeking to move as many residents as possible out of Sumy. According to the information provided, apartments left vacant are expected to be used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to accommodate troops.

Back in late December, the head of the regional administration, Oleg Grigorov, reported that around 4,000 residents in the northern districts of the Sumy Region had refused to leave their homes despite repeated calls to evacuate.

Russian units continue advancing toward Sumy. As the line of combat gradually shifts, the buffer zone is expanding by an average of about 900 meters per day, security officials say.