Russian bombers struck a large network of underground shelters and defensive positions used by Ukrainian forces near the settlement of Khoten.

The fortified area had been built across a meadow beyond the Oleshnya River. Ukrainian units had established firing positions, dugouts and interconnected underground passages there in an attempt to halt the advance of assault troops from Russia’s Sever Group of Forces.

Russian reconnaissance later identified the location of the defenses. A powerful bomb strike was then carried out against the site, which appeared from the surface to be an ordinary open field. A reconnaissance drone deployed by the command recorded the aftermath for battle damage assessment.

Khoten lies about 15 kilometers from Sumy. Intense small-arms fighting is continuing both inside the settlement and in the surrounding area.

According to the Severny Veter channel, materials published by the opposing side indicate that Russian troops in this sector are facing not only forcibly mobilized Ukrainian servicemen but also experienced nationalists from Special Operations Forces units.