Ukrainian forces have confirmed that Russian troops have crossed into the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time, attempting to gain a foothold in one of Ukraine’s key industrial hubs. Officials say the attack has been contained, but the move has raised fresh concerns over Moscow’s broader strategy in the ongoing war.
Viktor Trehubov of Ukraine’s Dnipro Operational-Strategic Group of Troops told the BBC that this marked “the first attack of such a large scale in Dnipropetrovsk,” while stressing that Russian advances were stopped.
Russia has long targeted the region, pushing from Donetsk. Earlier in June, Moscow declared a new offensive, but Ukrainian reports indicated that progress had been limited.
Mapping groups reported that Russian forces had entered two small villages, Zaporizke and Novohryhorivka. However, Ukraine’s general staff denied losing ground, saying Zaporizke remains under Ukrainian control while fighting continues around Novohryhorivka.
The Dnipropetrovsk region, home to more than three million people before the war, is Ukraine’s second-largest industrial area after Donbas, making it a major strategic target for Russia.
The new push comes as diplomatic efforts show little progress. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently met both Vladimir Putin in Alaska and Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington in an attempt to mediate, but hopes for a wider summit appear stalled. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, “The agenda is not ready at all.”
European leaders have also voiced concern over any deal that would involve ceding Ukrainian territory. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned such an agreement would be “a trap,” noting Russia has offered no real concessions.
Meanwhile, President Zelensky has urged Western allies to step up talks on long-term security guarantees. The UK has signaled it would deploy troops once hostilities end, while Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has backed long-term defense commitments to Ukraine.
On the home front, Ukraine has eased travel rules for men aged 18–22, allowing them to leave and re-enter the country. Officials say the change is designed to keep ties with Ukrainians living abroad while maintaining flexibility for future manpower needs.
The incursion into Dnipropetrovsk highlights how the conflict is expanding to new fronts, while diplomatic and military efforts to contain Russia remain under heavy strain.
