The Russian army has taken control of the village of Bratsky in Dnipropetrovsk
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday a new advance deep into Ukrainian territory, confirming that its forces had taken full control of the village of Bratsky in the southern Dnipropetrovsk region. This announcement reinforces the gains made by the Russian army since last summer, at a time when fierce battles continue on the front lines, unaffected by the harsh winter and low temperatures.
The strategic importance of Russian progress
The Russian incursion into the Dnipropetrovsk region marks a significant development in the course of military operations. Russian forces first entered this area, west of Donetsk, in August of last year. This region is particularly important because it is not among the four regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson) that the Kremlin officially annexed earlier, indicating an expansion of military operations to include new areas outside the traditional conflict zone in the Donbas region.
Dnipropetrovsk is a vital industrial and logistical center for central Ukraine, and any Russian advance there puts additional pressure on Ukrainian supply lines, especially given the numerical and equipment superiority that Russian forces currently enjoy compared to their Ukrainian counterparts, which suffer from a shortage of resources.
Energy war and human suffering
In conjunction with their advance on the ground, Russian forces are launching intensive attacks on energy infrastructure. Authorities in Kyiv have confirmed that recent nighttime attacks on Dnipropetrovsk have cut off electricity and heating supplies to more than a million households, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis as winter's cold intensifies.
In light of this escalation, Ukrainian authorities last week were forced to order the evacuation of thousands of children and their families from areas near the front lines in both Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk, in order to protect civilian lives from the ongoing artillery and air bombardment.
Background of the conflict and future prospects
As the fourth anniversary of the war, which began in February 2022, approaches, diplomatic solutions remain elusive. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently emphasized Moscow's determination to achieve its objectives in eastern Ukraine, whether through military force or diplomatic means that guarantee Russia's terms.
Current data indicates that the conflict has entered a long-term war of attrition, with Russia seeking to consolidate its hold on the areas it has seized and expand its influence, while Ukraine is trying to hold on with Western support, amid international concerns about the continuation of the war and its economic and geopolitical effects worldwide.
