Russian Forces Make Historic Entry into Dnipropetrovsk Region, Renewing Tensions in Ukraine

Russian troops have established a minor foothold in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time since the initial weeks of the large-scale conflict in 2022, as reported by The New York Times on Friday.

Over the past weekend, small contingents of Russian soldiers entered the Dnipropetrovsk area from the occupied Donetsk region, according to three Ukrainian officers stationed nearby who spoke to The New York Times.

A battlefield map created by the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War shows that Russia has claimed a narrow strip of land within Dnipropetrovsk.

The officers informed the NYT that while Russian forces haven’t taken control of any towns, they have made minor advances along some tree lines.

Military experts and Ukrainian officials suggested to the NYT that this maneuver appears to be more of a symbolic gesture aimed at undermining Ukrainian morale and strengthening Moscow’s positions in adjacent areas, rather than a full-scale effort to occupy the entire Dnipropetrovsk region.

One officer from Ukraine’s 72nd Brigade, known by the call sign «Barbarossa,» mentioned to the NYT that Russia has gathered a significant military presence in the region and may push further into Dnipropetrovsk.

On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that forces from a tank unit had reached the western border of the Donetsk region and were advancing in the Dnipropetrovsk area.

As of now, the Ukrainian military has not verified the presence of Russian troops in Dnipropetrovsk.

At recent peace negotiations in Istanbul, Russian representatives warned Ukraine of additional territorial losses if Kyiv declines to meet Moscow’s demands, which include the complete surrender of four regions partially occupied by Russia.

In March, a Russian official with ties to the Kremlin revealed to The Moscow Times that Moscow was contemplating the possibility of seizing portions of another Ukrainian region, such as Dnipropetrovsk or Sumy, to use as leverage in negotiations for Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Moscow, which currently holds the initiative on the battlefield, has repeatedly 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 regarding a potential resolution to the conflict.

Before Russia initiated its offensive, Dnipropetrovsk had an estimated population of around 3 million, with approximately 1 million residing in the regional capital, Dnipro.

The region serves as a crucial mining and industrial center for Ukraine, and any deepening of Russian incursions could significantly affect Kyiv’s already struggling military and economic situation.

Reporting contributed by AFP.