On 22 February, the Air Assault Forces (DShV) of the Ukrainian army confirmed they are conducting an "operation" on the Oleksandrivka axis, aimed at halting Russia's advance in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. The operation has reclaimed more than 300 km² and cleared eight settlements, with up to 50 engagements occurring daily on the southern front.
Air Assault Forces confirm operation to push Russia beyond Dnipropetrovsk border
The DShV reported that their grouping, together with adjacent units, is conducting counteroffensive actions along the Oleksandrivka axis. The stated objective is to disrupt Russian forces in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, defeat enemy formations, and push them beyond the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The forces have reportedly restored control over more than 300 km² and cleared eight settlements of Russian troops, including sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
"The enemy clings to every meter of seized territory, using all available resources, both human and technical, but despite their fierce resistance, our units are carrying out assigned tasks and step by step are liberating our native land," the military wrote.
The Air Assault Forces stressed the "active phase" is ongoing and it is premature to discuss final results. The situation on the front remains "very dynamic."
Zelenskyy and Voloshyn corroborate the 300 km² figure
President Zelenskyy told AFP on 20 February that Ukrainian forces had liberated about 300 km² on the southern front.
Russia filmed its “victory” in Ternuvate with drones — an hour later, Ukrainian forces wiped the group out
Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn separately confirmed to RBC Ukraine that counterattack and assault operations on the Huliaipole and adjacent axes in Zaporizhzhia Oblast had restored control over territory exceeding 300 km². Voloshyn added that Ukrainian forces conduct up to 50 engagements daily on the Huliaipole and Oleksandrivka directions.
Counterattacks exploit Russia's communications collapse
The operation began well before Zelenskyy's announcement. As early as 13 February, Ukrainian forces launched local counterattacks at the junction of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
Think tank ISW suggested that Ukrainian troops may have exploited disruptions in Russian communications — including SpaceX's blocking of smuggled Starlink terminals and Telegram restrictions.
Russia rushed reinforcements to its fracturing southeast. They rode in unarmored and in broad daylight
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi visited troops on the Oleksandrivka axis and near Huliaipole on 16 February, underscoring the operation's priority for Ukrainian command.
Advances confirmed across multiple villages
The frontline monitoring project DeepState reported on 21 February the Ukrainian forces were pushing Russians back near Kalynivske and in Ternove. Simultaneously, Russia continued pressing in Donetsk Oblast, advancing near Pokrovsk and Sviato-Pokrovske.
The same day Ukrainian Armed Forces officer Andrii Tkachuk separately confirmed advances near Pavlivka, Uspenivka, and Ternuvate in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Earlier, Kyiv pulled elite formations — including the 425th Assault Regiment fielding ex-Australian M-1 Abrams tanks — roughly 100 km south from the Pokrovsk sector to reinforce the Huliaipole axis in Zaporizhzhia Oblast next to southeastern Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
How Russia's Zaporizhzhia offensive built up — and stalled
The counteroffensive actions reverse months of Russian pressure on this front.
- By November 2025, Russia had massed nine brigades along a 41 km strip of the Huliaipole axis, exploiting poor weather and a sustained air interdiction campaign against Ukrainian supply roads and railways to limit drone reconnaissance and weaken defensive positions.
- By late November, the fighting had spread into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast itself — Ukrainian marines from the 37th Brigade cleared the village of Ivanivka after killing 53 and capturing 19 soldiers from Russia's 90th Tank Division. Ukraine also retreated from five towns in Zaporizhzhia under 400 daily artillery strikes.
- By December, Russia captured Huliaipole itself — a logistical node 80 km east of Zaporizhzhia city. With the southern front largely devoid of forests or urban fortifications, the path toward Zaporizhzhia appeared open.
- Russia then tried to cover up the emerging Ukrainian counteroffensive actions by inventing claims of a Ukrainian attack to disguise its own stalled advance.
ISW assessed in early February that Russia likely fabricated reports of a Ukrainian "counteroffensive" near Zaporizhzhia to mask the fact that its own advance claims were exaggerated— and to justify withdrawing from forward positions Russian forces had likely already lost.
