Ukraine war: Kyiv sets up positions across key Dnipro River

According to reports, Ukrainian military have established positions on the east bank of the Dnipro River in the southern Kherson district.

The area is mostly under Russian control, and forging the river may be crucial in next offensives.

Russian military bloggers have provided "enough geolocated footage and text reports to confirm" the advance, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War.

According to BBC Ukraine's military sources, there has been "certain movement across [the] Dnipro" close to Kherson.

The manoeuvre has not been confirmed by the Ukrainian military, and Russia has refuted the claims.

However, if the claims that Ukraine has established a permanent presence on the east bank are true, it might be helpful in Kyiv pushing Russian soldiers back.

In the future, a Ukrainian push in the region may potentially close the land corridor leading to the 2014-annexed Crimean peninsula of Ukraine.

Any Ukrainian force moves in the region, which is crisscrossed by floodplains, irrigation canals, and other water impediments, would be challenging, according to military analysts.

Additionally, Russia's huge superiority in the air would make Ukrainian advances much more difficult.

The Ukrainian military has been discussing preparations for a significant counteroffensive in public for some time, but without mentioning where or when it would be launched.

The large river has served as a natural barrier, keeping Russia in complete control of the Kherson area on the east bank of the Dnipro.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated in its report on Sunday that "geolocated footage published on April 23 indicates that Ukrainian forces are operating in areas north-west of Oleshky on the east" side of Dnipro.

The ISW further stated that there was insufficient data to evaluate the purported Ukrainian military advance's size or its future goals.

Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly "trying to gain a foothold on Bolshoi Potemkin [Velykyi Potyomkin - Ukrainian] island," which is situated between the new and old channels of the Dnipro, according to a report published on Monday by Russia's WarGonzo military blog.

Ukrainian South Command spokesperson Nataliya Humenyuk did neither confirm or deny allegations that Ukrainian soldiers had taken control of a location on the east bank.