Ukraine has rejected reports of a Russian breakthrough into the northeastern region of Sumy, characterizing them as part of Moscow's disinformation campaign while Russia again struck civilian areas in the northeast and south.
Social media reports with a link to the DeepState open-source intelligence resource alleged on December 10 that Russian troops had entered Myropillya in the Sumy region from the Kursk region through the border village of Oleksandria.
"Currently, there is no information from the military about a change in the situation on the border. The situation is under control," regional Governor Volodymyr Artyukh said on Telegram.
The reports come as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a vocal supporter of Kyiv in its battle against Russia's full-scale invasion, said peace talks could start "in the winter," as Warsaw prepares to assume the European Union's rotating presidency on January 1.
"Our presidency will have, among others, joint responsibility for the shape of the political landscape, for what the situation will look like probably during the negotiations that, perhaps -- there are still question marks here -- will begin in the winter of this year," Tusk said.
SEE ALSO: Ukraine Live Briefing: New Aid Package Announced At Ramstein MeetingMeanwhile, Ukraine's border service spokesman Andriy Demchenko told KYIV24 television that the information about the alleged breach of the border in Sumy region by Russian forces was false.
"Ukrainian border units did not record any attempts to enter or any attempts at opening hostilities," Demchenko said, adding it would be difficult for Russian forces to cross through the swampy area in the border region.
In the Kherson region, a 74-year-old woman was killed and several other people were wounded in a Russian drone strike in the village of Odradokamyanka.
Separately, Russian troops launched two missile strikes at the city of Zlatopil in the Kharkiv region, wounding 10 people, eight of whom were women, regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said on Telegram.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on December 10 that it had captured the village of Zhovte near the Ukrainian-held supply hub of Pokrovsk in the eastern region of Donetsk. Ukraine has not commented on the Russian claim, which could not be independently confirmed.
SEE ALSO: Wider Europe Briefing: How NATO Is Preparing For A Grim Winter In UkraineBoth Ukraine and Russia have been seeking to strengthen their negotiating position ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump beginning his second term in January.
Trump's claim that he would stop the nearly three-year war in "24 hours" once in the White House has raised alarm in Kyiv that it will be pushed to cede large swaths of territory in exchange for peace.
Trump on December 9 hosted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has echoed many of his Russian-friendly comments. The Hungarian leader has called for peace talks and has opposed military aid to Kyiv and related sanctions against Moscow.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), meanwhile, said on December 10 that it had detained a dual Russian-German citizen on suspicion of preparing an act of sabotage on a railroad in Nizhny Novgorod.
Ukrainian officials have not commented on the Russian claim.
Western officials have accused Russia of detaining foreign nationals and dual citizens for politically motivated reasons, saying such individuals are being arrested to be used as bargaining chips in future prisoner swaps.
In addition, human rights groups say nearly 900 Russians have been convicted of treason, espionage, or collaboration with foreign governments since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.