Russian forces captured their first settlement in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region over the weekend, signaling a continued push into new Ukrainian territory as the conflict enters its 40th month.
By Saturday, Russian troops had taken control of the village of Dache, located near the border between the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Although small, with a pre-war population of just 109 people, the village's capture marks a symbolic and strategic milestone—the first Russian-held settlement in the Dnipropetrovsk region since the start of Moscow’s so-called “Special Military Operation.”
Russian forces reached the outskirts of Dache last month but only moved to fully secure the village over the past week. The settlement sits approximately 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) south of Novopavlivka, a key Ukrainian logistics and defensive hub in eastern Dnipropetrovsk.
Currently, Russian troops are positioned just 3 kilometers (2 miles) east of Novopavlivka, further increasing pressure on Ukrainian lines in the region. While the Kremlin has not formally laid territorial claims to the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian officials have stated their intention to establish a "security zone"—a buffer area designed to protect Russian-controlled territories, particularly in Donetsk.
During a May 16 meeting in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations aimed at reviving stalled peace talks, Ukrainian representatives reportedly rejected Russian demands for a full withdrawal from the Kherson, Zaphorizhia, Donetsk, and Lugansk regions. In response, the Russian side was said to have warned that "next time, we will ask for more," with reports suggesting Dnipropetrovsk was mentioned specifically.
Russia’s advance in the region also brings its forces within 80 kilometers (50 miles) of Pavlograd, a key industrial center and logistical hub for Ukrainian military operations in the Donbas. With the main roads to and from Pokrovsk now severed by Russian troops, Pavlograd has become increasingly vital for Ukraine’s eastern supply routes.
The Russian military is now in range to target Pavlograd with intensified aerial bombardment, including FAB-500 glide bombs and short-range drone strikes—tactics that have been used to disrupt Ukrainian logistics in the rear areas across other contested regions.