Russian Forces Secure Initial Ground in Dnipropetrovsk Region, Signaling New Phase in Conflict

For the first time since the initial phase of the full-scale conflict in 2022, Russian forces have established a small presence in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, according to a report by The New York Times on Friday.

Over the last weekend, groups of Russian soldiers crossed from the occupied Donetsk region into Dnipropetrovsk, as reported by three Ukrainian officers in the area.

A battlefield map created by the Institute for the Study of War, which is based in the U.S., also shows that Russia has gained a minor strip of territory within Dnipropetrovsk.

The officers informed the NYT that Russian troops have not captured any towns but have made progress along a few tree lines.

Military analysts and Ukrainian sources have suggested to the NYT that this move is likely more of a symbolic effort to undermine Ukrainian morale and a strategic attempt to bolster Russia’s positions in adjacent areas, rather than an effort to take control of the entire Dnipropetrovsk region.

An officer from Ukraine’s 72nd Brigade, known as “Barbarossa,” mentioned to the NYT that Russia has gathered a significant force in the region and could potentially advance further into Dnipropetrovsk.

On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that a tank unit had reached the western border of the Donetsk region and was continuing its offensive operations in Dnipropetrovsk.

The Ukrainian military has not yet confirmed the presence of Russian forces in Dnipropetrovsk.

During recent peace negotiations in Istanbul, Russian negotiators warned Ukraine of potential territorial losses if Kyiv does not comply with Moscow’s demands, which include the complete surrender of four regions that are partially under Russian control.

A Russian official connected to the Kremlin remarked to The Moscow Times in March that Moscow was considering the possibility of taking parts of other Ukrainian regions, such as Dnipropetrovsk or Sumy, to use them as leverage in negotiations regarding Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

With the initiative on the battlefield, Moscow has consistently dismissed calls from Ukraine, Europe, and U.S. President Donald Trump for a full and unconditional ceasefire, even as it engages in discussions with Kyiv about a potential resolution to the conflict.

Before the onset of Russia’s offensive, Dnipropetrovsk had an estimated population of around 3 million people, with approximately 1 million residing in the regional capital, Dnipro.

As a crucial mining and industrial center for Ukraine, any deeper incursions by Russian forces into this region could significantly impact Kyiv’s already struggling military and economy.

Reporting by AFP also contributed to this coverage.