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Ukrainian soldiers appear to have made a breakthrough in the attritional war against Russian invaders. President Volodymyr Zelensky\u2019s fighters say they have crossed into Russian-occupied territory on the east bank of the Dnipro River for the first time.<\/p>\n
The development comes as the Ukrainian summer offensive appears to be coming to an end.<\/p>\n
The incursion into Russian-occupied territory is significant, as Ukraine\u2019s fighters aim to isolate Putin\u2019s forces in the Crimean peninsula, which was illegally annexed in 2014.<\/p>\n
The BBC received a text message from the 46th brigade saying that forces were engaged in fierce fighting trying to take the village of Krynky.<\/p>\n
The force said that if they do manage to take the village, then the settlement can be used as a base from which to launch an attack further into the occupied territory.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> UK Typhoon fighter jets intercepted by Russia as deluded Putin makes shock claim<\/strong><\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Doing so may allow Ukraine to slice between the Kremlin\u2019s forces, cutting their supply lines.<\/p>\n The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said that President Zelensky\u2019s men were undertaking larger than usual ground operations on the east bank of the Dnipro.<\/p>\n If the village is successfully claimed by Ukraine, it would constitute a major success after what was a slow and grinding counter-offensive launched against Russia in June.<\/p>\n As winter nears, fighting will become more treacherous. Despite this, fighters told the BBC: \u201cWinter will not be a time for respite\u201d.<\/p>\n The troops did note that even if they were to take Krynky, a \u201cNormandy landings\u201d type of assault was unlikely.<\/p>\n This comes as the Kremlin claims that Russian pilots have intercepted British Typhoon jets approaching their air space.<\/p>\n Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed: \u201cA pair of Su-27 fighters from the air defence duty force were flown to identify the air targets and prevent violation of the state border of the Russian Federation.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/5025640.jpg?r=1697911400657\")
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