Kyiv claims successful attacks in Russian side of Dnipro River

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) – Ukraine said Friday it had carried out successful attacks on the Russianoccupied eastern bank of the Dnipro River, days after Moscow admitted Kyiv’s forces had gained a foothold there.

A sustained Ukrainian breakthrough across the frontline waterway would mark a significant success for Kyiv, whose wider counteroffensive has so far failed to turn the tide of the 21-month war.

“The Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to consolidate several bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River (Kherson axis),” the army said in its evening update.

It said Ukrainian defense forces “continue to hold ground...and are taking steps to expand the foothold.”

In earlier statements, Ukraine’s Marine Corps said it had “conducted a series of successful operations” and that “heavy fighting continues.”

The rival armies have been entrenched on opposite sides of the Dnipro since Russia withdrew from the western part of Kherson region last November, in an embarrassing setback for the Kremlin.

That was the last major territorial change in the conflict, with both sides having since failed to make progress despite multiple offensives.

Russia’s defense ministry later appeared to reject Kyiv’s claims of a breakthrough.

“The enemy (is) on the right (western) bank of the Dnipro,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that it had thwarted Ukrainian attempts to land on unspecified islands.

Both sides said they had inflicted heavy losses on the other – claims AFP could not verify.

Since their withdrawal, Russian forces have continuously shelled Ukrainian towns and villages across the river, forcing civilian evacuations.

The governor of Kherson region said early Friday that one person was killed in the latest Russian shelling, following at least three deaths the day before.

Earlier this week, the Russianinstalled official responsible for occupied Kherson conceded for the first time that some Ukrainian units had crossed the Dnipro and established positions on the eastern bank.

He said Kyiv’s troops were “blocked” in Krynky, a small village on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, and were facing a “fiery hell” from Russian artillery, rockets, and drones.

The official, Vladimir Saldo, said Ukraine had only been able to cross the river by “throwing meat” – a euphemism for military assaults that involve huge numbers of manpower and encounter heavy losses.