By Tim Lister, CNN, Svitlana Vlasova and Christian Edwards

(CNN) — Russian forces are advancing in the northern Ukrainian region of Sumy, bringing the regional capital within range of their drones and artillery, according to Ukrainian officials and analysts.

The advance comes even as Russia had appeared to be put on the back foot by two audacious Ukrainian attacks in recent days – a drone attack that took out multiple Russian aircraft on Sunday and a strike on a bridge connecting Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula using underwater explosives on Monday.

Russian forces are now constantly shelling the area as they try to advance on Sumy city, and civilians are being evacuated, according to Ivan Shevtsov, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military in the area.

“At the moment, the territor

See Full Page