Russia’s Claims of Advances in Dnipropetrovsk Region: ISW Analysis and Official Sources
Reports from Russian officials about purported advances and territorial gains in the Dnipropetrovsk region have sparked significant attention and discussion among military analysts and experts. According to the data provided by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and official statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the situation remains quite tense and warrants careful scrutiny. Russian forces in the southern part of Donetsk Oblast, specifically near the Novopavlivske direction, are reportedly attempting to push north of the village Zirka, located close to the administrative border with Dnipropetrovsk. Russian military bloggers have claimed that they captured this settlement along with several strategic positions in Bilianka, but these assertions are not yet confirmed by official sources. Geolocation analyses of videos by ISW help verify or refute such reports, which remain under active discussion. Meanwhile, Ukrainian armed forces stated in their evening summary that no villages mentioned earlier—Myrne, Zaporizhzhia, Fedorivka, Shevchenko, Vesele, Nopil, or Rіvnopol—have been occupied or overrun by enemy forces. Ukrainian defenders continue to repel multiple enemy assaults, with eight attacks thwarted in the vicinity of the mentioned settlements. Additionally, reports from Zaporizhzhia region indicate Russian advances into the village of Malynivka along the Golaypil direction, signaling possible ongoing offensive operations. However, these claims also require verification. The geopolitical situation remains fluid, and official sources stress the importance of maintaining caution and objectivity when assessing enemy reports.