Ukraine surprised as Russian army penetrates deep into Dnipropetrovsk

Dnipropetrovsk was not among the five regions that Russia announced it would annex by 2022, raising concerns that Moscow was widening the front line.

Russia has announced further progress in its military campaign in Ukraine, with its forces capturing the village of Novoheorhiivka, located in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, close to the border with Donetsk. This is a rare time for Russia to assert control of territory in an area that was not on the list of provinces Moscow previously announced to annex.

According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense on August 20, the 57th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade pushed the Ukrainian Army out of Novoheorhiivka after a series of attacks. The agency stressed that the capture of the village showed Russia's ability to expand the front line into areas that had not previously been considered key. However, the Ukrainian side did not confirm this information.

The Russian military announced in July that it had taken control of the first village in Dnipropetrovsk. However, according to Pentagon estimates, Moscow now controls less than 1% of the vast region, suggesting that Russia’s new announcement, if accurate, is more symbolic than a strategic turning point.

The DeepState battlefield analysis site noted that as of August 19, Russian military positions were still at least 1-2 kilometers from Novoheorhiivka. This raises doubts about the authenticity of the information released by Moscow. Reuters also said they could not independently verify it on the ground.

Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five regions that Russia announced it would annex in 2022 (including Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea). Moscow’s claim that its troops have “planted a flag” in the region may be intended to send a political signal that the fighting is not limited to disputed territories.

At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry also announced that their forces had launched attacks on a number of important Ukrainian infrastructure facilities. Among them was a seaport believed to be a fuel receiving and distribution facility for the Ukrainian Army, as well as a factory assembling drones.

In a speech the same evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russia had attacked a gas distribution station in the southwestern Odessa region of the country. He warned that attacks on energy infrastructure not only directly affected defense forces but also posed a risk of disrupting supplies to civilians in the coming winter.

In addition to the developments in Dnipropetrovsk, Russia has also announced the seizure of Pankivka and Sukhetse in eastern Ukraine. Although small in size, these areas are located in the belt around Donetsk, reflecting Moscow’s strategy of “nibbling” step by step.

According to open-source maps compiled by observers, Russia now controls about 114,500 square kilometers, or 19% of Ukraine. That includes the entire Crimean peninsula and a large swath of territory stretching from Donetsk and Luhansk to Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. If confirmed, Russia’s claim of a deep penetration into Dnipropetrovsk would be the first time it has gone beyond the provinces that President Putin has annexed.

With the war showing no signs of abating, Russia’s expansion into a new area raises concerns that the conflict could be prolonged and widen. Ukraine is still receiving military aid from the West, but its resources and equipment are increasingly under pressure from Moscow’s relentless attacks.

Analysts say the announcement of the seizure of the village in Dnipropetrovsk is more propaganda than military. However, it reflects Moscow’s ambition to expand the front line, forcing Kiev and the West to reconsider their defense strategy.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has entered its fourth year, and every small step carries political weight. The announcement of the seizure of Dnipropetrovsk allows Moscow to demonstrate its initiative, but also exposes the information war and the risk of unpredictable escalation.

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