Ukraine restricts civilian movements in border area of Sumy region

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine is restricting the movement of civilians within a 20 km (12 mile) zone in a northeastern region bordering Russia, Kyiv's general staff said on Tuesday, as its troops push further into Russian territory amid a week-old surprise offensive.

The measure, applying to parts of the Sumy region bordering Russia's Kursk, was needed due to an "increase in the intensity of hostilities" and the activation of Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in the area, it said.

"The military command imposed restrictions on the movement of all categories of citizens in the twenty-kilometre border zone of the Sumy region," it said in a statement on social media.

The general staff added that the measure was temporary and that residents of the newly restricted area could still access their homes by showing proof of registration.

Ukrainian troops pierced the Russian border, about 530 km (330 miles) southwest of Moscow, last week in an attack that has resulted in the capture of swathes of Russian territory and mass evacuation of civilians on both sides of the border.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Alex Richardson and Andrew Cawthorne)