Russia claims breakthrough into central Ukraine as civilian toll mounts
Russia says its forces have entered Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time, in a move that, if confirmed, could signal a new phase in the conflict.
Key Information:
- Russia's defence ministry claims its troops have advanced into Dnipropetrovsk, a key Ukrainian industrial region.
- Ukraine has not confirmed the claim, and there is a lack of independent verification.
- At least 14 civilians were killed and 68 injured in Russian strikes across Ukraine over the weekend.
- Peace talks remain deadlocked as Moscow reiterates hardline demands.
- Ukrainian drones hit a chemical plant and disrupted air traffic near Moscow.
Russia has said its troops have, for the first time, entered the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk — a strategic industrial heartland which had, until now, remained outside the immediate frontline.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, elements of its 90th Tank Division crossed into Dnipropetrovsk from neighbouring Donetsk, a large part of which is already under Russian control. The scale and nature of the alleged incursion remain unclear, as neither Ukraine nor independent sources have verified the claim.
Ukraine’s General Staff has not commented on the development. As of Sunday, open-source intelligence groups such as DeepState and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) had not confirmed any significant change in territorial control.
If verified, the move would mark a significant shift on the battlefield and could increase pressure on Ukraine’s already strained military. Dnipropetrovsk borders three regions—Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—partially occupied by Russia. It is also a vital mining and logistics hub, home to some three million people before the war.
The reported push follows recent incremental Russian gains in the north-eastern Sumy region. According to pro-Ukrainian sources, Russian forces have taken over 190 square kilometres in Sumy over the past month. Analysts say these moves suggest a broader Russian strategy to stretch Ukrainian defences across a wider front.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian civilians continue to suffer. Ukraine’s National Police reported that 14 people, including two children, were killed in Russian strikes over the weekend. Attacks targeted residential areas and public buildings in the Kharkiv, Donetsk and Kherson regions, leaving 68 people injured.
"The occupiers used missiles, guided aerial bombs, and drones against civilians," police reports said, adding that high-rise buildings, a music school, and private homes were hit.
On the diplomatic front, hopes for a breakthrough appear distant. During recent peace talks in Istanbul, Russia restated long-standing conditions, including a complete Ukrainian withdrawal from the frontlines, an end to Western military support, and a formal renunciation of NATO membership. Ukraine and its allies have firmly rejected these demands.
Russia’s refusal to entertain a ceasefire also comes amid fresh drone strikes inside its territory. A Ukrainian drone triggered a fire at a chemical plant in Russia’s Tula region, south of Moscow. Separately, drone activity prompted the temporary suspension of flights at three international airports near Moscow—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky.
As the frontline shifts and diplomatic avenues falter, the humanitarian cost of the war continues to rise. And as the conflict enters its third year, there is little sign of respite for those caught in its path.
Sources: CNN, RadioFreeEurope
