Stepnohirsk
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Stepnohirsk
Степногірськ | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Stepnohirsk Location in Zaporizhzhia Oblast  Stepnohirsk Location in Ukraine | |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Oblast | Zaporizhzhia Oblast |
| Raion | Vasylivka Raion |
| Hromada | Stepnohirsk settlement hromada |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 4,294 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Stepnohirsk (Ukrainian: Степногірськ; Russian: Степногорск) is a rural settlement in Vasylivka Raion, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, southern Ukraine. The settlement is located on the left bank of the Dnieper, adjacent to the Kakhovka Reservoir. Stepnohirsk hosts the administration of Stepnohirsk settlement hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine.[1] Population: 4,294 (2022 estimate).[2] By 2024, ~700 people still lived in the settlement.[3]
The rural settlement of "Stepnohirsk" is located 2.5 km from the left bank of the former Kakhovka Reservoir on the river of Dnieper. The distance to the city of Zaporizhzhia is 31 km. The village of Plavni (Vasilievsky District) is 2 km away.
History
In 1918, it was founded as the village of "Sukhoivanovka". During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1943), the village was under German occupation.
In 1987, it was renamed the urban-type settlement of Stepnogorsk. In January 1989, the population was 6,083 people.[4]
Until 26 January 2024, Stepnohirsk was designated as an urban-type settlement. On this day, a new law entered into force which abolished this status, and Stepnohirsk became a rural settlement.[5]
Russo-Ukrainian war
On 2 January 2025, a Russian airstrike struck the settlement, killing 1 person.[6] On 14 September 2025, Russian Forces entered the south-eastern part of the settlement. [7]
On 28 December 2025, Russia released a statement announcing capture of Stepnohirsk.[8] Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Counteracting Disinformation, said Russia does not control Stepnohirsk and stressed that Valery Gerasimov's claims about capturing the city are a falsehood.[9] On 18 January 2026, Ukrinform confirmed partial Russian control of the settlement.[10]
Demographics
| 1989 | 2001 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6083 | 4732 | 4505 | 4534 | 4510 | 4450 | 4438 | 4420 | 4476 |
As of the 2001 Ukrainian census, Stepnohirsk had a population of 4,822 inhabitants. The composition of the population by their first languages was as follows:[11]
Economy
- Tavrichesky Mining and Processing Plant for manganese ore extraction. Closed in 1995.[12]
- Stepnogorsk Mining and Processing Plant
- Zarya LLC
- Omela LLC
- Peremoga Agricultural Production Cooperative
- Dneprspetsstroy LLC
- Privatbank Joint-Stock Company
- Oschadbank
- Market
Transport
The closest railway station, Plavni-Vantazhni, is about two kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the settlement, on the railway connecting Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol. There is some passenger traffic.
The settlement is also on highway M18, which connects Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol.