Ukraine's Dnieper River Crossings Trigger Tensions with Russia

Russian forces have shelled southern Ukrainian cities as Ukrainian forces reportedly establish a foothold on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River, which is controlled by Russian forces. The extent and objectives of these Ukrainian successes are unclear, but analysts believe that if Ukraine goes ahead with a spring counteroffensive, a major goal would be to break through the land corridor that Russia managed to capture early in the war between its territory and the annexed Crimean Peninsula. The fighting has become a war of attrition, with neither side able to gain momentum.