According to AFP on June 8, Russia said on the 8th that it was advancing into the Dnepropetrovsk region in eastern Ukraine, the first of its three-year offensive and of great significance.
Moscow claims to have annexed five regions of Ukraine, but has not officially announced the capture of Dnepropetrovsk.
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The report quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense that a tank unit "had arrived at the western border of the People's Republic of Donetsk and continued to launch an offensive in the Dnepropetrovsk region."
For Kiev, this is both a symbolic and a strategic blow.
Ukraine has not responded to Russia's statement.
Dnepropetrovsk is an important mining and industrial center in Ukraine, and Russia's deep into the region could have a serious ripple effect on Kiev's struggling military and economic situation.
The report also stated that it is estimated that the population of the region was about 3 million before Russia launched its offensive. About 1 million people live in Dnieper, the capital of the region.
Ukrainian military personnel previously told AFP that given the flat terrain of the region, there are few natural obstacles and villages available for Kiev troops to use as defensive positions, Russia can advance relatively quickly.
Source: Reference Message
