[Discussion] Ukraine Pushes Russian Forces From Key Positions in Stepnohirsk

Ukrainian Intelligence Reports Gains in Stepnohirsk

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, HUR, said on May 18 that Ukrainian forces had pushed Russian troops out of key positions in Stepnohirsk, a town in Zaporizhzhia Oblast about 30 kilometers south of the regional capital. The operation was attributed to the Artan special unit, which said it acted in coordination with adjacent units to “oust the Russian occupiers” and stabilize the situation in the settlement.

According to the unit’s statement, Ukrainian troops conducted a series of offensive actions in difficult urban conditions and took control of important locations in the town. The statement described Russian positions there as fortified and said the operation was intended to restore local control rather than open a broader new axis of advance.

Video Evidence and Battlefield Mapping

HUR published footage showing Ukrainian troop movements and combat activity in Stepnohirsk. Geolocated video reviewed by open-source observers showed Ukrainian armored vehicles moving through a crossroads on the E105 highway toward the town center. Those areas had previously been marked by the Ukrainian battlefield monitoring project DeepState as under firm Russian control.

The published video does not by itself establish the full extent of Ukrainian control across the entire town, but it supports HUR’s claim that Ukrainian forces were operating in central Stepnohirsk. The footage also indicated close-range urban combat and the use of armored mobility to reinforce or exploit newly secured positions.

Strategic Role of Stepnohirsk and the E105

Stepnohirsk holds tactical importance because it lies on the north-south E105 highway, a significant route in the sector. Control of the town affects movement between frontline positions and influences Russia’s ability to pressure areas closer to Zaporizhzhia city.

Ukrainian officials say Russia has been trying to seize Stepnohirsk to advance toward the regional capital. Retaining or regaining control of the town would complicate those efforts, particularly as Russian forces continue operations elsewhere along the southeastern front. The settlement also sits near Kamianske, roughly five kilometers to the south, which has been cited as a source area for Russian infiltration attempts.

Differing Descriptions of the Situation

Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces, said Russian troops had not fully occupied Stepnohirsk, but that Russian infiltration groups had repeatedly entered the town from Kamianske. He declined to comment directly on HUR’s statement because it was issued by a different branch of the military.

That distinction suggests a more complex picture than a simple transfer of control. HUR presented the action as a successful clearing operation against Russian elements in the town, while Southern Defense Forces messaging emphasized recurring Russian incursions rather than a prior complete occupation.

Counterattacks and Likely Next Steps

Pasi Paroinen of the Finland-based Black Bird Group told the Kyiv Independent that Ukrainian forces had been conducting a series of counterattacks in the Stepnohirsk direction. He said it was possible Ukraine could stabilize the area in the near term.

Artan commander Viktor Torkotiuk said the assault was coordinated with aerial reconnaissance and “pinpoint fire,” adding that troops checked houses for remaining Russian personnel and hidden threats. He also said Ukrainian forces expect Russia may try to re-enter the town.

The battle around Stepnohirsk forms part of a wider contest in southern Ukraine, where Russian forces have also been advancing along the eastern bank of the Dnipro River toward Prymorske in an apparent effort to move artillery pressure closer to Zaporizhzhia.

View full article