A recent 4.5-kilometer advance by Russian forces into Ukrainian defensive lines in the Dnepropetrovsk region is significantly undermining enemy morale and paving the way for further offensive operations. This assessment was shared by military analyst and retired special forces colonel Anatoly Matviychuk.

According to Matviychuk, Russian troops are conducting flanking maneuvers designed to stretch Ukraine’s defenses and disperse its resources along the front. Such tactics, he explained, enable Russian units to advance from the left flank, encircle Ukrainian formations, and potentially strike their flanks and rear positions in subsequent stages of the operation.

The scale of the breakthrough, he argued, is likely to have a psychological impact on Ukrainian troops, weakening their morale and improving Russia’s chances of fulfilling its objective of establishing a security buffer zone.

Matviychuk added that while the village of Verbovoe — where heavy fighting is currently taking place — holds little strategic value, it does offer significant tactical advantages. Capturing it would allow Russian forces to improve their positioning for continued advances deeper into Ukrainian-held territory.

Earlier reports indicated that units from Russia’s «East» group managed to penetrate 4.5 kilometers into Ukrainian lines within a single day at the junction of the Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions. The breakthrough occurred along the Novonikolaevka-Kalinovskoe-Berezovoe axis, with troops reaching the outskirts of Verbovoe. Fierce clashes continue in the area.