Russian troops have entered a key southeastern region of Ukraine, leading to a warning of “active hostilities” in one area. Vladimir Putin’s forces are attempting to get a foothold in the industrial region of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine said, while denying reports that two villages had been captured.
Russia has repeatedly claimed to have entered Dnipropetrovsk throughout the summer as it attempts to push further west into Ukraine. Moscow’s troops have made several gradual advances as the Kremlin continues to pressure Kyiv to give up territory as part of a potential peace deal, with Mr Putin reportedly making it clear to the US he wants the whole of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian battlefield analysts DeepState on Tuesday reported that Russian forces had taken control of two villages — Zaporizke and Novohryhorivka — just inside Dnipropetrovsk.
However, this was rejected by the General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces which claimed advances had been repelled.
A statement read: “The Ukrainian defence forces have stopped the advance of the Russian invaders and continue to control the village of Zaporizke, despite all the efforts of the enemy, who is trying to capture this settlement.
“Active hostilities are also ongoing in the area of the village of Novohryhorivka, where our soldiers are inflicting significant losses on the enemy, destroying dozens of occupiers every day.”
Russia’s defence ministry has previously claimed to have captured both Zaporizke and Novohryhorivka, according to the Reuters news agency.
Ukrainian military spokesperson Viktor Trehubov told the BBC that Russia had launched its “first attack of such a large scale” in Dnipropetrovsk.
He also made it clear the advance had been stopped.
Ukrainian forces have made some gains in north-eastern areas of the country, while its attacks on Russian oil facilities are contributing to fuel shortages in parts of Russia.
