Ukrainian forces have acknowledged that the Russian army has entered the industrial eastern Dnipropetrovsk region and is attempting to establish a foothold, but reported that their advance has been halted.
“This is the first attack of such a scale in the Dnipropetrovsk region,” Viktor Trehubov from the Operational-Strategic Group of Dnipro Forces told BBC, adding that the Russian advance has stopped.
Russia has claimed throughout the summer that it has entered this area, as its forces try to push deeper into Ukrainian territory from the Donetsk region. In early June, Russian officials said an offensive had begun in Dnipropetrovsk; however, recent Ukrainian reports indicate they have only just crossed the regional border.
Any Russian advance in Dnipropetrovsk could deal a blow to Ukrainian morale, as the U.S.-led diplomatic effort to end the war seems to be weakening, despite the meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska.
According to Ukraine’s DeepState mapping project, Russia has already occupied two villages in the region, Zaporizke and Novohryhorivka. However, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denied this.
The Ukrainian army stated it “continues to control” Zaporizke, adding that “active fighting also continues in the area of Novohryhorivka village.”
Moscow has not claimed Dnipropetrovsk, unlike Donetsk and four other eastern regions of Ukraine, but has targeted its largest cities, including the regional capital, Dnipro.
