Sunday claimed it had advanced into Ukraine's eastern Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time since the full-scale invasion began three years ago, signalling a potentially serious escalation in the conflict amid stalled peace talks and mounting losses on both sides.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensifies as Russian forces advance to Dnipropetrovsk, while Kyiv conducts drone attacks on Russian assets. Tensions rise over peace negotiations and prisoner swaps.

Vladimir Putin’s troops seized 507 sq km of Ukrainian territory last month, up from 379 sq km in April and 240 sq km in March. The gains were concentrated in the eastern Donetsk region, which borders Dnipropetrovsk.