Russian troops enter Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time during the war: The New York Times

As part of the summer offensive, Russian troops crossed the border of Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time in three years of the war. This indicates a change in the dynamics of hostilities, informs The New York Times.

According to Ukrainian officers who are fighting in the area, small groups of Russian troops started advancing from Donetsk region to the territory of Dnipropetrovsk last weekend. According to a battle map compiled by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, Russian units are already entrenched in this sector. At the same time, Russia probably has no intention of seizing this region, as it has previously stated.

“Instead, military analysts and Ukrainian soldiers see this offensive as symbolic — aimed at undermining Ukrainian morale by invading a new region — and strategic, designed to strengthen defenses in neighboring areas.” – says the message.

An officer with the call sign “Barbarossa” from the 72nd brigade of the Armed Forces, which is currently holding back Russian attacks on the Dnipro, said that Russia has withdrawn “a lot of forces” to the area and he expects the enemy to advance further into the region.

According to Ukrainian officers, the Russians have so far advanced only a few lines of trees deep into the Dnipropetrovsk region and have not captured a single settlement so far. It is not yet known whether they will be able to consolidate the success, use the breakthrough and advance further, the publication notes. If Russia is able to seize a significant part of the region, it will complicate the position of Ukraine in possible negotiations on the exchange of territories.

This advance demonstrates Russia’s slow but gradual success on the battlefield. Russian troops have changed tactics: instead of the “meat grinder” strategy used during the Battle of Bakhmut, they have switched to more flexible tactics of small assault groups that look for weak points in the defense lines of Ukraine.

“The enemy uses the tactics of small groups – two to four, sometimes six soldiers moving from wood line to wood line or from building to building”, – explained “Barbarossa.”