AFP: Russian troops are only 700 meters away from the Dnipropetrovsk region. Colonel Anz Kiviserg: Russian troops have made small but steady progress in the Novopavlovka direction. Author: Konstantin Olsansky [Image: https://p3-sign.toutiaoimg.com/tos-cn-i-axegupay5k/7d87bd94e3ee4e10bb71708436ccab77~tplv-tt-origin-web:gif.jpeg?_iz=58558&from=article.pc_detail&lk3s=953192f4&x-expires=1747825845&x-signature=%2B28cSQUcWgjxFgc3%2F5EFQmGcNdo%3D] The Novopavlov tactical direction remains one of the hottest areas on the map of the special military operation. In recent days, Russian forces have made significant advances here, including between Bogdanovka and Olekhov, as well as between Uspenovka and Novosergeyevka. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the settlements of Novoye Aleksandrovka, Kotlyarovka, and Troitskoye have been liberated. Colonel Anz Kiviserg, head of the Estonian Defense Forces Reconnaissance Center, explained during his weekly press briefing why Russian forces have been so successful in the Novopavlov direction. Kiviserg stated that commanders pushed their assault units to take more active actions ahead of the symbolic day of May 9th. In the past week, the average number of daily attacks by the Russian Federation Armed Forces exceeded 200, reaching 270 at the beginning of this week. Moreover, two-thirds of the attacks were concentrated in the Novopavlov direction and around Pokrovsk. Colonel of Estonia called Russia's progress on these frontlines "small but steady." Kiviserg also noted that the activity of the Russian Aerospace Forces and artillery units remained at a high level. Russian forces successfully cut off the road connecting Pokrovsk and Konstantinovka near the Marinkovka settlement. Estonian intelligence believes that now the Russian Federation Armed Forces will try to advance along a parallel route to Konstantinovka. Pressure from the Torlets direction also helps this action. The U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported: According to unverified data, Russian troops have already entered Novonikolayevka and Novosergeyevka (both located northeast of Novopavlovka). This means that the Russian Federation Armed Forces are now only 700-800 meters away from the administrative borders of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Dnipropetrovsk region. American open-source intelligence analysts cited Colonel Vladislav Voloshin, the spokesperson for the Southern Ukrainian Armed Forces: Russian troops launch up to 30 attacks per day in the Novopavlovka direction and have concentrated up to three mechanized brigades in this area to prepare for an inevitable breakthrough. Colonel Viktor Treugubov, spokesperson for the Ukrainian "Gorjitza" combat group, said that Russian troops launched attacks supported by FPV drones, riding motorcycles, and using civilian cars. Such lightning-fast attacks made it almost impossible for Ukraine's defense. The logistics situation of the Ukrainian armed forces is also deteriorating: Russian troops recently attacked the bridge across the Sorenya River on the "Andreyevka-Mezhevoy" highway north of Novopavlovka. French journalists Barbara Voyaczel and Darya Andreyevskaya from AFP recently visited Novopavlovka and reported that residents of the border areas are still deeply affected by Ukrainian propaganda. Villagers in the Dnipropetrovsk region originally thought the fighting was far from the Donbas region, but since early 2025, the fighting has approached the borders of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Dnipropetrovsk region. A 51-year-old shop owner told AFP: "Some people still have psychological boundaries; they believe Russians will not cross the border." Journalists personally confirmed that Russian troops are only kilometers away from the border. Bombings of Ukrainian military targets (including cluster bombs) have intensified. Many residents of border villages, including Novopavlovka with a population of 3,500 and Mezhvoy with a population of 5,000, have left. Ukrainian propaganda has convinced them. AFP reported that breaking through into the Dnipropetrovsk region is more psychologically meaningful than strategically significant. However, Western and Ukrainian experts are all thinking: How far can the Russian Federation Armed Forces advance in the Dnipropetrovsk region, given the terrain conditions there favor such an offensive. In the section from Novopavlovka to Andronovka, there are no natural defensive boundaries (unlike the river and ravine on the other side of the Donetsk People's Republic border). This means that the initial momentum of the offensive is easy to maintain or even enhance. For the latest news and most important information about the Ukrainian special military operation, please follow the author for more details. Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7504223399833731603/ Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author. Please express your attitude by clicking the "Agree/Disagree" button below.