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RNZ News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Russia claims to have pushed into central Ukrainian region for first time
By Kosta Gak and Catherine Nicholls , CNN A Ukrainian tank drives on a road in a village in the Dnipropetrovsk region on 16 March 2025. Photo: ROMAN PILIPEY Subunits from the Russian military's 90th tank division have reached the border of Dnipropetrovsk with the Donetsk region, large parts of which are already under Russian occupation, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence. After this, they continued into Dnipropetrovsk, the defence ministry claimed. Russia claimed that its forces are for the first time pushing into the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk, an area it has been trying to reach for months, in a move that could create new problems for Kyiv's much-stretched forces. The extent of the advance is unclear, as are Moscow's ambitions for the assault. CNN is unable to verify the battlefield reports, and Ukraine has denied the Russian advance. Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia forces, which is in command of the area Moscow alleged it broke through, told CNN that "the Russians are constantly spreading false information that they have entered the Dnipropetrovsk region from the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka directions, but (in neither place) is this information true." But if confirmed, the Russian advance would be a setback for Ukrainian forces at a time when peace talks have stalled. Russian forces have also in recent weeks made incremental progress in the northern Sumy region, as well as near Lyman in Donetsk. The Russian advance would also put further pressure on the Ukrainians' grip on the town of Pokrovsk, a key hub that has been under Russian assault for months. Ukraine's General Staff said Sunday morning that its troops had stopped 65 "offensive" Russian actions in the Pokrovsk direction. An Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessment of Russia's offensive campaign found that Russian forces continued their offensive operations in the Pokrovsk direction on Saturday, but did not advance. Russia now controls just under one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, according to the Ukrainian analysis group Deep State. That includes Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine that were occupied before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Dnipropetrovsk is bordered by three regions that are partially occupied by Russia - Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. One of Russia's declared goals is capturing all three regions. It already occupies all but a slither of a fourth region, Luhansk. Dnipropetrovsk is more sparsely populated and rural than those four regions, known as the Donbas, and will be more difficult to defend. It is an important mining and logistics centre and had an estimated population of three million before the war began. Russia's claim comes days after its forces advanced further in the northern Sumy region, bringing the region's capital within range of drones and artillery. While capturing the region's capital city, also named Sumy, is likely beyond what Moscow is setting out to do, the move underlines the pressure Kyiv is under, from the northern border to the Black Sea. The conflict has intensified in recent weeks. Ukraine conducted an audacious drone attack that took out multiple aircraft inside Russia last Sunday, as well as a strike on the bridge connecting Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula using underwater explosives on Monday. Russian forces have also advanced further into Ukraine, attempting to grab territory quickly as peace talks between the warring countries continue. Delegations representing Kyiv and Moscow met in Istanbul on Monday for a second round of peace negotiations, but there were no major breakthroughs, with talks lasting a little over an hour. Critics have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging out peace negotiations so that his country can grab more Ukrainian land. Despite his insistence that he wants an end to the fighting, Putin has refused to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, instead proposing a much narrower ceasefire, lasting just two or three days in certain parts of the frontline. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly told Russia and Ukraine there will be consequences if they don't engage in his peace process, although he has so far resisted growing calls from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers to use sanctions to pressure Putin into winding down his war. On Thursday, Trump compared the warring states to children fighting, telling reporters: "Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy. They hate each other, and they're fighting in a park, and you try and pull them apart. They don't want to be pulled. Sometimes you're better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart." He said that only he would know when the right time to apply sanctions on Russia would be, even suggesting he'd be willing to use new punitive measures on Ukraine if the war doesn't end. "We'll be very, very, very tough, and it could be on both countries to be honest," Trump said. "You know, it takes two to tango." -CNN
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine denies Russian troop presence in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast amid offensive, describes situation as 'tense'
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the Ukrainian military's denial of the presence of Russian troops in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Russian forces continue their efforts to break into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces reported on June 8, saying that the situation around the 31st Separate Brigade's positions remains "tense." "The enemy has not abandoned its plans to enter Dnipropetrovsk Oblast," the Southern Defense Forces wrote on Telegram. "Our soldiers are bravely and professionally holding their section of the front, thwarting the occupier's plans." The comment follows the Russian Defense Ministry's June 8 claim that its forces had entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Despite the claims, Major Andrii Kovalev, a spokesperson for Ukraine's General Staff denied Russian troop presence in the region. "The information is not true. Fighting is ongoing in Donetsk Oblast. The enemy did not enter Dnipropetrovsk Oblast," Kovalev told Ukrainska Pravda. In a separate statement to CNN, Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson for for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces said that "the Russians are constantly spreading false information that they have entered the Dnipropetrovsk region from the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka directions, but (in neither place) is this information true.' The 31st Brigade is deployed in the Novopavlivka direction, where Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts converge. Since 2014, Russian aggression has heavily impacted Donetsk Oblast, while Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has remained free from direct incursions. The denials from Ukraine's militaary come amid continuing Russian offensives in eastern and northern Ukraine, along with escalating diplomatic efforts that have yet to yield a ceasefire. President Volodymyr Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa said on June 6 that Russia aims to occupy all Ukrainian territory east of the Dnipro River and advance toward Odesa and Mykolaiv in a broader plan to sever Ukraine's access to the Black Sea, amid a renewed summer offensive. On May 21, Ukrainian officials rejected similar claims that Russian troops had reached Dnipropetrovsk Oblast's administrative boundary. Serhii Lysak, head of the regional military administration, called the reports "fake," citing doctored photos allegedly showing Russian soldiers in the area. The Ukrainian monitoring project DeepState analyzed one such image and determined it had been taken in Troitske, a village in Donetsk Oblast. As a precaution, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast began mandatory evacuations of children and families from four front-line villages in late April — Kolona Mezhova, Novopidhorodne, Raipole, and Sukhareva Balka — located just 5 to 15 kilometers from Russian positions. Despite the lack of verified ground incursions, Dnipropetrovsk has endured frequent Russian missile, drone, and aerial attacks since the full-scale invasion began. The ongoing Russian advance occurs as peace efforts remain stalled, and U.S.-brokered negotiations have failed to achieve a ceasefire. Read also: US expects Russia's retaliation for Operation Spiderweb to continue soon We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
New front in Ukraine war? Russia breaches new region of Dnipropetrovsk; peace talks stalled
A view after a Russian attack that hit a residential building in Kharkiv, Ukraine (Pic credit: AP) Russia on Sunday claimed it had advanced into Ukraine's eastern Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time since the full-scale invasion began three years ago, signalling a potentially serious escalation in the conflict amid stalled peace talks and mounting losses on both sides. Moscow's defence ministry said tank forces had breached the western border of the Donetsk People's Republic and were "continuing to develop an offensive in the Dnipropetrovsk region," a vital industrial and mining hub that was previously untouched by Russian ground incursions. If confirmed, the move would represent both a strategic and symbolic blow to Ukrainian forces already stretched thin across a 1,000-km frontline. Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia forces, told CNN that "the Russians are constantly spreading false information that they have entered the Dnipropetrovsk region from the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka directions, but (in neither place) is this information true." Ukraine's top political and military leadership has yet to officially respond, though the southern army command acknowledged the threat, saying, "Russia does not give up its intentions to enter the Dnipropetrovsk region, but our fighters are bravely and professionally holding their section of the frontline." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Medvedev issues warning Russia's former president, Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of the national security council, issued a stark message amid the reported advance, "Those who do not want to recognise the realities of the war at negotiations will receive new realities on the ground." Images released by Russia's defence ministry showed soldiers raising the national flag in Zorya, a village near the internal border of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk. Ukrainian officials have not confirmed the loss of any territory. Ukrainian lieutenant colonel Oleksandr, speaking from Mezhova, roughly 12 km from the border, told AFP that the advance was "very slow" and unlikely to change the course of battle dramatically. "They could say all of Ukraine belongs to them. Saying it is one thing," he said. "But I don't think it will radically change the situation. Our resistance will remain unchanged." Strategic significance of Dnipropetrovsk The Dnipropetrovsk region, home to nearly three million people before the war, includes Dnipro, a major industrial city that has been repeatedly targeted by Russian missile strikes. A deeper Russian push into this region could severely strain Ukraine's military resources and deal another blow to its war-hit economy. Ukrainian officers say the terrain, mostly flat with fewer defensive positions, could allow Russian forces to advance faster if Kyiv is unable to hold the line. Last year, Moscow used Dnipro as a testing ground for its "experimental" Oreshnik missile, claiming it had hit an aeronautics facility. Stalled peace talks and prisoner swap The reported advance comes just days after peace talks in Istanbul yielded no breakthrough. Russia has refused to entertain calls from Ukraine, the EU, and US President Donald Trump for an unconditional ceasefire, while demanding formal recognition of its control over five Ukrainian regions, including Donetsk and Crimea, as a precondition for peace. Kyiv has firmly rejected these terms. However, a prisoner exchange, the only concrete agreement from the talks, may begin next week, according to Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. He said logistics had been communicated to Moscow and preparations were on track despite "the enemy's dirty information game." Russia, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of refusing to reclaim the bodies of dead soldiers. The Kremlin claimed over 1,200 corpses were transported in refrigerated trains to the border, awaiting handover.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's defence forces: Despite Putin's declared "truce", fighting on front continues
Despite Kremlin statements about a so-called "ceasefire" declared for Victory Day, Russian forces continue assaults and attacks along several fronts in Ukraine, including the Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Lyman, Vovchansk, Kramatorsk and Novopavlivka fronts. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May – ed.] Source: Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group, on the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "The enemy is less active, and there were no combat clashes on some fronts this morning. However, active fighting took place on a number of fronts, so we are not talking about any ceasefire. There were assault actions starting at midnight, when this supposed truce took effect – on the Lyman front, on the Vovchansk front, directly in the city of Vovchansk, in the town of Chasiv Yar on the Kramatorsk front, in the city of Toretsk and in Shcherbynka on the Toretsk front, and on the Pokrovsk front – with active attempts to advance along the entire front line. The same goes for the Novopavlivka front. So to say that they proclaimed some sort of ceasefire – as we can see, there is no sight of it on the battlefield or in the rear." Details: Trehubov noted that the Pokrovsk front remains one of the toughest. Ukrainian forces are engaged in defensive battles there. Russian troops are attempting to carry out assault operations west of the city, east of the urban agglomeration – along the Pokrovsk–Kostiantynivka road – and slightly further south to reinforce efforts on the Novopavlivka front. Quote: "In total, 65 [combat clashes] – that's not as many as on some past days, but it's currently the most intense front, the most intense section of the front. And the Russians are not giving up their attempts to improve their tactical position around the city – either to cross the Pokrovsk–Kostiantynivka road to complicate the connection between these cities, or to reach the road to Pavlohrad… or somehow support those forces trying to advance along the Novopavlivka front towards the border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which, as of now, they have not managed to do. And as they planned, they will not succeed by 9 May." Background: The Ukrainian Air Force reported that no Russian drones have been detected in the air since the start of 8 May, although Moscow has stepped up airstrikes using tactical aircraft. One person was killed and two others injured in Russian guided aerial bomb attacks on Sumy Oblast on the night of 7-8 May. On 28 April, the Kremlin announced that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin had unilaterally declared a "truce" to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Second World War. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Putin's initiative to declare a three-day ceasefire a theatrical performance aimed at creating an illusion of Russia's exit from international isolation, and instead insisted on a 30-day truce, as proposed by the United States. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
The Sun
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Putin breaks his OWN ceasefire after just hours by dropping bombs in civilians despite ‘three day truce' for VE Day
UKRAINE has accused Vladimir Putin of breaking his own ceasefire just hours after the start of the three-day truce. Kyiv say they have faced almost 140 clashes on the frontlines since Russia's self-imposed peace deadline kicked off ahead of their Victory Day celebrations. 2 2 A military spokesperson said Russian troops are attacking in the east as Viktor Trehubov said Russia has waged military assaults in several areas after midnight. Ukraine's general staff said there had been 139 clashes on the entire frontline as of 10pm local time yesterday - before the ceasefire. In the early hours of Thursday morning, Kyiv's air force accused Moscow of launching guided bombs on its northern region of Sumy. They claimed three separate attacks had been reported. There have been no immediate reports of damage or any casualties as of yet. It comes as Ukraine continues to refuse the short term peace deal instead calling for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia. Putin and his cronies have dully ignored the longer deal and instead continued to launch attacks. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
