Russia said its forces were continuing to create a "security strip" in border areas of Ukraine's Sumy region after driving Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region, just across the border in western Russia.

Russia's Defense Ministrysaid Friday that its forces were establishing a buffer zone in the areas of northeastern Ukraine's Sumy region that border southwestern Russia's Kursk region, where Moscow recently said it forced out Kyiv's troops.

Moscow’s forces are trying to create a “security strip” in the border areas of Ukraine’s Sumy region after driving Ukrainian troops out of Russia’s neighbouring Kursk region.