Russian Forces Advance Near Dnipropetrovsk Border Amid Ukraine Fighting

Russian forces have initiated a renewed offensive along the border of Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, with small groups crossing over from the Donetsk region, marking their first presence there in three years of conflict. Ukrainian officers report that Russia is accumulating significant forces in the area, employing small-unit tactics to advance cautiously while aiming to secure strategic points like Novopavlivka to create buffer zones protecting flanks in Donetsk and to prepare for further offensives. Despite these incursions, Russian troops have yet to capture any settlements within Dnipropetrovsk, and Ukrainian defenses remain engaged in repelling attacks near the administrative border. Analysts suggest Russia's push is both symbolic, intended to undermine Ukrainian morale by breaching a new region, and strategic, to strengthen its defensive positions in adjacent areas. Additionally, the broader Russian offensive across eastern Ukraine has intensified recently, with a notable increase in daily assaults and territorial gains, although progress remains slow given the scale of the conflict and Russian losses. Ukrainian forces continue to counteract with active drone defense and report heavy infantry presence from Russian troops in contested zones, particularly near Pokrovsk, a key target in the ongoing fighting.