Stepnohirsk (; ) 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. Population: By 2024, ~700 people still lived in the settlement.
Geography 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 German invasion of the Soviet Union in World War 2(1941-1945), 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.
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.
Russo-Ukrainian war On 2 January 2025, a Russian airstrike struck the settlement, killing 1 person. On 14 September 2025, Russian Forces entered the south-eastern part of the settlement.
On 28 December 2025, Russia released a statement announcing capture of Stepnohirsk. 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. On 18 January 2026, Ukrinform confirmed partial Russian control of the settlement.
On 18 May 2026, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine reported that Russian forces have been cleared from the settlement.
Demographics 1989 20012011201220132016201720182019 6083 47324505453445104476445044384420
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:
Economy Tavrichesky Mining and Processing Plant for manganese ore extraction. Closed in 1995. 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 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.
Social services
School. The school offers educational and cognitive children's clubs, music groups, dance classes, sports clubs, a library, and fitness groups. Inpatient hospital department and clinic. Pharmacies. Two preschools. Private dental office. Children's music school.
Religion Church in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara; House of Prayer of Evangelical Christians-Baptists;All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christian-Baptist Churches Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Attractions The Alley of Glory Park of fallen soldiers during World War II. Two school stadiums with football fields, one of which hosts seasonal interregional football matches between town of the district.
Notable people Yehor Demchenko (born 1997), Ukrainian footballer
References