Ukrainian territorial defense fighters discovered and engaged a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group of eight people attempting to cross the border in Sumy Oblast near midnight on October 12, 2023.

Fighters of a territorial defence brigade, while performing tasks in the area of the Sumy hromada, discovered a subversive reconnaissance group of the enemy consisting of eight people today [12 October – ed.] at midnight.

The saboteurs tried to cross the state border of Ukraine and aimed to move further towards one of the civil critical infrastructure facilities.

Artillery and mortar units fired at the enemy. The subversive reconnaissance group suffered losses and retreated.

There are no casualties among Ukrainian servicemen.

Russian forces shelled five communities of Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast on Oct. 12, local authorities reported on Telegram.

The enemy carried out airstrikes near Popivka and Seredyna Bida in the Sumy region. About 20 settlements came under enemy artillery and mortar fire, including Bleshnia and Buchky of the Chernihiv region; Mefedivka, Seredyna-Buda, Fotovyzh, Chuikivka, Stepok of Sumy region; Hatyshche, Vovchansk, Veterynarne of the Kharkiv region.