Russian forces are facing questions over whether they plan to cross the Dnipro River as Russian commentators sound alarms over Ukrainian advances, Radio Svoboda reported.
The broadcaster examined whether Moscow has acknowledged an offensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, pointing to growing unease among Russian military bloggers along the Lyman axis in the east.
According to a 44-minute broadcast by Radio Donbas Realii, questions have also emerged over whether Russian troops will attempt an assault across the Dnipro following a declared regime of silence in the occupied town of Oleshky.
The programme specifically highlighted shifts on the battlefield following an action designated as Operation Vivaldi, alongside reports of Russian military channels expressing urgent concern about developments on the Lyman front.
Southern front and the Dnipro crossing
The focus on the Dnipro River comes after earlier reports by the broadcaster on October 30, which asked if Russia was massing forces to storm the city of Kherson during the truce in Oleshky. Two days earlier, on October 28, the outlet examined reports that Ukrainian forces were exerting heavy pressure on Russian positions across the south.
The Dnipro River forms a vital natural barrier in southern Ukraine, separating Ukrainian-controlled territory on the western bank, including the regional capital Kherson, from Russian-occupied territory on the eastern bank. Oleshky sits directly on the occupied side of the river, where any military movement across the water would require complex amphibious operations under direct artillery observation.
Eastern battlefields and troop movements
Developments along the southern river line follow weeks of intense fighting across eastern Ukraine documented by the broadcaster. In late October, reports focused on battles around Kupyansk, where the Khartia brigade pushed Russian assault troops from a pipe on October 23, and the Skelya battalion moved underground north of the city on October 26.
Radio Donbas Realii also addressed recent claims surrounding the town of Dobropillya, after reports on October 19 questioned why Russian sources had fabricated claims of capturing the settlement. Related broadcasts examined strikes on data centres in the Donbas region, the reported deployment of a new Russian missile called Filin, and questions over whether Russian units were entrenching in Kostiantynivka.
Radio Donbas Realii is a regional project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, an international news service that broadcasts across Eastern Europe and covers the front lines. The broadcaster released the 44-minute episode across digital audio platforms as military analysts continue to track troop movements across both the eastern and southern sectors.
