Russian Troops Push Into New Ukrainian Territory

Russia has made a bold move, claiming that its military has entered the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk. This area has been a target for months, and the move could spell trouble for Ukraine's already stretched forces. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that subunits from the 90th tank division reached the border of Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk, then pressed on into Dnipropetrovsk. However, the true extent of this advance is uncertain. Ukraine has not confirmed the Russian claim, and independent verification is difficult. The timing of this alleged advance is significant. Peace talks have stalled, and Russian forces have been making slow but steady progress in other areas, such as the northern Sumy region and near Lyman in Donetsk. This new push could further strain Ukraine's defenses, particularly around the town of Pokrovsk. This town has been under constant Russian assault for months and serves as a crucial hub. Ukraine's General Staff reported that its troops had thwarted 65 Russian offensive actions in the Pokrovsk direction. Meanwhile, an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War suggested that Russian forces continued their offensive operations in the Pokrovsk direction but did not make significant advances. The situation remains fluid and tense. Dnipropetrovsk is a strategically important region. It borders three partially occupied regions: Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Russia's ultimate goal is to capture all three, and it already controls most of a fourth region, Luhansk. Dnipropetrovsk is less densely populated and more rural than the Donbas regions, making it harder to defend. It is also a key center for mining and logistics, with an estimated pre-war population of three million. This latest claim from Russia comes just days after its forces advanced further into the northern Sumy region. This move brings the region's capital within range of Russian drones and artillery. While capturing the capital city of Sumy might be beyond Russia's current capabilities, the advance highlights the pressure Ukraine faces from multiple directions. From the northern border to the Black Sea, Ukraine is under siege.