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.
Occupation
2022
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.[1][2][3]
Dnipro
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.[1][2][3]
Berezove
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.[3][4]
Zelenodolsk
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.[5][6]
Russia's withdrawal
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.[7][8]
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.[9]
Recapture of the oblast
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.[10]
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.[11][12]
2025
In June 2025, the occupation restarted after Russian forces re-entered the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.[13]
On 1 July 2025, the village of Dachne was captured by Russia[14] but later that month it was re-contested by Ukraine.[15] Later in the month on 24 and 25 July, Russia captured Maliivka[16] and re-captured Dachne.[17]
Contested by Russia before 1 July 2025.[19] Captured by Russia on 1 July 2025.[19] Contested by Ukraine since around 6 July 2025.[20] Recaptured by Russia on 24 July 2025.[18]
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