Liberation of Dnipropetrovsk region by Ukraine: fighting is taking place in area of one settlement

The liberation of the Dnipropetrovsk region from Russian occupation is currently underway, though full control over the territory has not yet been restored. While Ukrainian forces have successfully liberated 26 settlements across the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions since January 2026, fighting continues in specific areas such as the village of Daknoy. This ongoing offensive operation, which began in early 2026, has allowed Ukraine to regain control of approximately 745 square kilometers of land this year, effectively stripping Russia of nearly all its territorial gains made after troops entered the region in June 2025. In some instances, Ukrainian advances have pushed Russian forces back beyond the borders of Dnipropetrovsk into neighboring Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Assessments from various international sources highlight the scale of Ukraine's recovery in this sector. The US-based Institute for the Study of War conservatively estimates that Ukraine has recaptured at least 627 square kilometers in the Dnipropetrovsk region, contributing to a net Russian loss of 233 square kilometers across the entire front line since the start of the year. Specific settlements identified as liberated include Zelenyi Hai, Novokatskoye, Grushevskoye, Tolstoy, Zorka, Yalta, Podovnoye, Mirnoye, Voskresenka, Yanvarskoye, Voronezh, Turnovo, Berezovoye, Stepnoye, Kalinovoye, Privolnoye, Zelenyi Yar, Rybnoye, and Krasnogorskoye. Despite these significant territorial successes, military sources confirm that the area around Daknoy remains under Russian occupation, indicating that the conflict in this region is far from over. However, these military gains come amidst a concerning escalation in Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities using ballistic and hypersonic weapons. Deputy head of the main intelligence directorate Vadim Skibitsky reported that Russia has intensified its production of Iskander M ballistic missiles and S-400 systems reprogrammed for steep ballistic trajectories. In July alone, Russian forces launched 198 such missiles, marking the highest number since the beginning of the year, with estimates suggesting Russia is producing over 100 of these advanced weapons monthly. Intelligence suggests that Moscow may be stockpiling these munitions in preparation for a large-scale winter campaign specifically targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The intensity of this missile threat has created significant challenges for Ukraine's defense capabilities, particularly regarding air defense interceptors. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine received nearly three times fewer interceptor missiles for its Patriot systems from allies this year compared to the expected support in 2025. This disparity in weapon supply coincides with Russia's ramped-up production of long-range strike capabilities, raising fears of a concentrated assault on critical infrastructure during the winter months. As Ukrainian forces continue their offensive operations to secure the Dnipropetrovsk region and push Russian troops further back, the balance between territorial liberation and the defense against overwhelming missile barrages remains a central focus of the ongoing war.