The New York Times reported on the Russian army’s entry into the Dnipropetrovsk region

Russian forces have started transferring troops into Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region.

This information reported according to a report by The New York Times.

The transfer reportedly began last weekend.

“Small units of Russian soldiers began crossing into the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region over the weekend,” the article states, citing three Ukrainian officers currently serving in the area.

The report also includes opinions from analysts and Ukrainian soldiers, who believe the Russian offensive is both symbolic—aimed at undermining Ukrainian morale by breaching a new region—and strategic, intended to strengthen defenses in adjacent areas where Russian troops are already entrenched.

Russian forces’ foothold in Dnipropetrovsk is also reflected on maps produced by the Institute for the Study of War(ISW).

An officer with the call sign “Barbarossa” from the Ukrainian 72nd Brigade, which operates in that direction, stated that Russia has amassed significant forces in the area. He expects Russian troops to continue advancing deeper into Dnipropetrovsk region. So far, he said, they have moved forward along several forest belts.

Another officer, identified as Viktor, believes Russian forces will attempt to seize the village of Novopavlivka, which lies on a strategically advantageous elevation, and from there advance north toward Mezhova.

According to the article, this move could allow Russia to establish a buffer zone roughly 10 kilometers deep to protect the flanks of its groupings in Donetsk Oblast, setting the stage for a new offensive toward Pokrovsk.

The push toward Dnipro, the regional capital, also highlights the momentum of Russia’s current offensive.

“In the past month, Russia has captured more than 200 square miles of territory in Ukraine, more than double its gains in April and the second-largest monthly advance since the first year of the war,” the article notes, citing data from Black Bird Group.