Russian occupation of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

The Russian occupation of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast is a military occupation of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast by Russia after the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.

The oblast's capital, Dnipro, was not successfully captured by Russian forces during the initial 2022 offensive, but did suffer heavy shelling by Russian artillery. However, other cities did fall under Russian control, including Apostolove, Berezove, Ternove, and Zelenodolsk. On 11 May 2022, Russian forces left the oblast and ended their military occupation. In June 2025, Russia re-entered the Oblast.

As of 22 December 2025, Russia fully controls 33 Ukrainian settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, those being Radisne, Harasymivka, Nechaivka, Ostapivs'ke, Andriivka, Danylivka, Vidradne, Yehorivka, Kyrpychne, Vyshneve, Pryvillya, Zlahoda, Verbove, Hai, Novooleksandrivka, Oleksiivka, Orestopil', Stepove, Kalynivs'ke, Berezove, Novomykolaivka, Zaporiz'ke, Novoheorhiivka, Ternove, Novoselivka, Sichneve, Maliivka, Vorone, Khoroshe, Sosnivka, Dachne, and Filiya.

Three other settlements are currently being contested – Novopavlivka, Ivanivka, and Zarichne. The pace of Russian advances in the region has slowed down, mainly due to inability to cross Vovcha river in the western axis, and Solena river in the eastern axis of Russian control in the region.^[1]

On March 1, 2022, a Russian mixed column of up to 35 Russian armored vehicles and 600 soldiers entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast from the southeast. Sixteen days later, another Russian mixed column of up to 60 Russian armored vehicles and 1,200 soldiers entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast from the southwest. After confronting the few Ukrainian soldiers in the area, they managed to capture and besiege the first cities along the oblast's border.^[2][3][4]

On March 4, 2022, although the city of Dnipro was not captured by Russian forces, explosions were reported inside the city, one of which severely damaged the Kaidatsky Bridge, which was determined to be an act of Russian sabotage to prevent Ukrainian forces from crossing the Dnieper River.^[2][3][4]

On March 1, 2022, the city of Berezove fell under Russian occupation. The same day, statements by civilians inside the city claimed that they had initiated a resistance operation called "Operation Hidden Mortar". Testimony from a city local following the Ukrainian liberation of the city stated that that throughout the occupation of the city, civilians organized themselves at night to use some mortars on the roofs that had been left by the Russian troops to bomb any vehicle approaching the city. The local argued that they used them exclusively at night since during the day the munitions were guarded, and that they used the mortars to bomb the fortifications that the Russian forces were establishing around the city.^[4][5]

On March 16, 2022, the city of Zelenodolsk fell under Russian occupation. Based on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Russian forces tortured Ukrainian military personnel inside the city during the occupation. In addition, city infrastructure suffered critical damage due to the intensity of the bombing. When the city was liberated by Ukrainian forces, a warehouse containing Russian tanks and weapons in good condition that civilians gathered throughout the occupation was discovered.^[6][7]

On 10 March 2022, a Ukrainian counteroffensive began, ending Russian control over localities it held in the south-east of the oblast. As a result, Russia began withdrawing troops from southern Ukraine, including Synelnykove Raion, with Ukrainian forces recapturing occupied settlements in the region.^[8][9]

On 10 May 2022, another independent counteroffensive began, ending Russian control over the few remaining localities it held in the south-east of the oblast. Following the fighting, Russia began withdrawing troops from the region, including Kryvyi Rih Raion, and Ukrainian forces began recapturing the remaining occupied settlements in the oblast. On 11 May, Ukrainian officials and locals in the oblast claimed that Russian forces had completely abandoned south-east Dnipropetrovsk Oblast for redeployment to southern Ukraine.^[10]

After Russian forces withdrew, Ukrainian forces began demining operations in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

On 12 May 2022, Serhiy Lysak, Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, stated that all Russian troops had left the region, but that it was still unsafe due to military equipment and other ammunition left behind by Russian troops after their withdrawal.^[11]

Following their withdrawal, Russian forces continued to continue to shell small towns and villages in the oblast due to the existence of Ukrainian weapons depots and fortifications in the area.^[12][13]

In June 2025, the occupation restarted after Russian forces re-entered the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast from the Synelnykove Raion direction, as part of the Novopavlivka Offensive.^[14]

On 1 July 2025, the village of Dachne was captured by Russia.^[15] However, Ukrainian side initally denied presence of Russian forces in the village, as well as the entire oblast.^[16] A month from this, Ukrainian forces entered Dachne, and the village would be contested.^[17]

On 9 July 2025, Suspilne reported that the Russian forces tried to enter Dnipropetrovsk Oblast through the border settlement of Dachne close to Donetsk Oblast, but failed to do so as the Ukrainian 37th Special Forces Brigade firmly held the positions.^[18] Following this, on 24 and 25 July, Russia captured Maliivka^[19] and re-captured Dachne.^[20]

On 15 December 2025, Russian drones assaulted a railway station in Piatykhatky, destroying large parts of it in the process. ^[21] According to the official report, no passengers or employees of Ukrzaliznytsia were injured. Train traffic has been restored, and most sections have been powered back.

On 18 December 2025, Suspilne reported that in the Synelnykove Raion of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, five military administrations were formed in accordance with the decree of the President of Ukraine Zelenskyy.^[22] This was announced by the head of the regional council, Mykola Lukashuk, in his Telegram channel.

In particular, the following administrations appeared in the districts: Velikomykhailivska, Malomykhailivska, Mezhivska village, Pokrovskaya village, Slavic village.

On 20 December 2025, 13 settlements in the Synelnykove Raion of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast have been added to the list of territories where hostilities where hostilities are underway.^[23]

The list includes the following settlements of the Dubovykivska rural territorial community: Chaplyne, Long, Cranberry, Green Grove, Kasayev, Kopani, Cool, Novoandreyevka, Petrykovo, Rivne, Waves, Khutoro-Chapline.

The following territories are defined as areas of active hostilities: 1. Through which the line of combat contact passes or which border temporarily occupied territories. 2. Where it is currently impossible to fully perform state functions, in particular in terms of access to public electronic registers, and there is a significant threat to the life and health of the population.

Between 19 and 20 December 2025, Russia attacked the Synelnykove Raion with drones, striking Petropavlivska, Ukrainska, and Dubovykivska communities located within.^[24]

• Russian invasion of Ukraine
• Russo-Ukrainian War
• Outline of the Russo-Ukrainian War
  • Russian occupation of Crimea
  • Russian occupation of Chernihiv Oblast
  • Russian occupation of Donetsk Oblast
  • Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast
  • Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast
  • Russian occupation of Kyiv Oblast
  • Russian occupation of Luhansk Oblast
  • Russian occupation of Mykolaiv Oblast
  • Russian occupation of Sumy Oblast
  • Russian occupation of Zhytomyr Oblast
  • Snake Island during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
• Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation
• Collaboration with Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
• Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts