Reference News Network, July 11 report - According to AFP, July 8 report, after months of fierce fighting at the entrance of Dnipropetrovsk region in eastern Ukraine, Russia claimed to have finally captured a settlement in this industrial area. In the context of the war between Russia and Ukraine that has lasted more than three years with no end in sight, why is this unconfirmed breakthrough significant?
The Russian Defense Ministry stated on July 7 that Russian forces had taken control of the settlement of Dachnoye within the administrative boundaries of Dnipropetrovsk region. This is the first time since the outbreak of the conflict that Russian forces have claimed to enter the region, significantly increasing the pressure on the already tense Ukrainian front lines. The Kyiv authorities have not yet responded to Moscow's statement, but a Ukrainian unit in the region stated on June 6 that it still controlled Dachnoye.
Russian former president Medvedev, known for his tough statements toward Ukraine, said on June that the advance of Russian forces in Dnipropetrovsk region was due to Kyiv and its Western allies refusing to recognize the occupied Ukrainian territories as part of Russia. He warned: "Those who refuse to accept the reality of the war in negotiations will face new realities on the battlefield." Ukraine's General Commander Syersky admitted that Russian forces have a "significant advantage" in manpower and resources. Ukrainian military blogger Sergey Strelchenko frankly said: "The advance of the Russian forces is just a matter of time."
As part of Ukraine's important mining belt, Dnipropetrovsk region has strategic significance for the coal supply of Ukraine's power system. If Russian forces continue to advance, it may affect Ukraine's economy and energy supply. The local government has issued evacuation orders for civilians living near the war zone, especially those with children. The regional city of Dnipro, about 200 kilometers from the front line, may also become a more frequent target of Russian bombing.
However, Ukrainian analysts believe that Russian forces currently do not have the military capability to completely break through the Ukrainian defense lines along the front - including the entrance to Dnipropetrovsk region. Former Ukrainian Defense Ministry advisor Alexey Kopytko pointed out: "They don't have now - nor will they have in the future - the resources needed for a rapid advance."
In 2014, Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine - a move that has never been recognized by the international community. In February 2022, after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia also declared that four eastern Ukrainian regions were incorporated into its territory. Although Russian forces have not yet fully controlled these so-called "annexed" areas, Moscow still makes the condition that "Kyiv gives up the occupied territories" as a prerequisite for stopping military operations. Ukraine has categorically rejected this territorial demand.
The Russian advance in Dnipropetrovsk region may allow the Kremlin to further claim sovereignty over this region under an increasingly extreme expansionist logic. Between mid-May and early June this year, the two sides held their first direct talks since the outbreak of the conflict in Turkey, but diplomatic efforts did not achieve major breakthroughs. (Translated by Pan Geping)
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