Ukrainian forces have confirmed that Russian troops have crossed into the eastern industrial region of Dnipropetrovsk, attempting to establish a foothold. Viktor Trehubov, from the Dnipro Operational-Strategic Group, noted this marks the first large-scale attack in the Dnipropetrovsk region, although he emphasized that the advance has been halted.
Throughout the summer, Russia has claimed incursions into this area as part of its broader offensive from the Donetsk region. While Russian officials indicated that an offensive began in June, recent Ukrainian reports suggest minimal breaches of the regional border. Notably, any Russian advance into Dnipropetrovsk would likely impact Ukrainian morale amid faltering diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Additionally, a mapping project named DeepState reported that Russia has occupied two villages within Dnipropetrovsk: Zaporizke and Novohryhorivka. However, Ukraine’s military disputes this claim, stating they still control Zaporizke and that active fighting continues in Novohryhorivka.
Though Moscow has not formally claimed Dnipropetrovsk, it has attacked major cities within the region, including Dnipro. Before the conflict, Dnipropetrovsk housed over three million residents and was a significant industrial center.
Despite slow progress and high casualties, Russian forces have seen some recent territorial gains, particularly in Donetsk. However, any significant advancement seems to have stalled.
U.S. and European leaders have expressed skepticism over Russia’s intentions, particularly following remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin to former U.S. President Donald Trump. While there have been discussions about potential agreements, definitive plans for a summit remain unclear.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has amended travel regulations, allowing men aged 18 to 22 to travel abroad. This change also applies to those currently outside the country, enabling them to return and leave again as desired. The adjustment is part of a broader effort to maintain connections among Ukrainians, particularly as approximately 5.6 million Ukrainian men currently reside abroad.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17n1p24yv9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss