Ukraine Begins Forced Evacuations in Dnipropetrovsk Region

The Ukrainian government announced on Tuesday the forced evacuation of several settlements in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which borders the Donetsk region, as Russian forces move closer to the administrative boundary.

The seven villages ordered to evacuate are concentrated around the towns of Mezhova and Novopavlivka—both of which sit in strategic defensive positions and are now just six miles (10 kilometers) from advancing Russian forces.

Until this past Friday, residents had only been advised to evacuate voluntarily, when the regional military authorities in Dnipropetrovsk mandated the evacuation of all families with children in villages east of Mezhova, though the new order now applies to all residents.

As fighting creeps into a new region of Ukraine, questions have emerged regarding Russia’s intentions if it proceeds with an offensive into an area that has largely remained untouched throughout more than three years of war—except for reported reconnaissance activity in early March 2022.

Russia does not currently claim the Dnipropetrovsk region as part of the Russian Federation, unlike the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. However, Moscow may still choose to launch an offensive to establish a so-called “security belt” aimed at defending its claimed territories—similar to its actions in the Sumy region, which it advanced into following the failure of Ukraine’s Kursk counteroffensive.

Territorial control remains a central issue in ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States and Russia to bring an end to the conflict.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that during a meeting last Friday between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader stated that the question of sovereignty over Crimea and the four newly claimed regions was non-negotiable. Witkoff had reportedly presented a proposal to freeze the conflict along the current frontlines, framed as former President Donald Trump’s "final offer" for peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the proposal last Tuesday, leading to yet another impasse in peace negotiations.

Any new territorial gains by Russian forces in Ukrainian regions not previously claimed by Moscow may further complicate already stalled diplomatic talks.