Russia claimed Sunday that its forces are for the first time pushing into the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk, an area it has been trying to reach for months, in a move that could create new problems for Kyiv’s much-stretched forces.

Russia said on Sunday (June 8) its forces had advanced to the edge of the east-central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk amid a public row between Moscow and Kyiv over peace negotiations and the return of thousands of bodies of soldiers who fell in the war.

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.