Ukrainian troops have reclaimed nearly all Russian-held territory in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region through a coordinated offensive, Major General Oleksandr Komarenko announced on March 10. The operation has liberated over 400 square kilometers since late January, leaving only three to five small settlements under Russian control, such as Novomykolaivka, Zaporizke, and Novoheorhiivka.

Komarenko, head of the main operational directorate of Ukraine's General Staff, described the push along the Oleksandrivsk axis as a "planned offensive operation" that has shifted the dynamics on the front. "Almost the entire territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region has been liberated," he said. "Three small settlements remain to be completed and two more to be cleared." He noted that the advances marked the first net territorial gain for Ukraine in a month since its 2024 Kursk operation, with more land liberated in February than lost.

The counterattacks, involving airborne assault troops and mechanized brigades, began intensifying in February after Russian forces pushed into the area in late 2025. Moscow aimed to establish a buffer zone beyond the Donbas to shield against Ukrainian strikes and support further offensives toward Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukrainian assessments. The Institute for the Study of War confirmed Ukrainian advances of 10-12 kilometers deep, including geolocated liberations of Novohryhorivka, Kalynivske, Stepove, and Ternove.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an early March interview that Ukrainian forces had regained about 460 square kilometers since the start of 2026. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi emphasized that the efforts were seizing the operational initiative, forcing Russia "to play by our rules."

Analysts at ISW assessed the counteroffensive as producing tactical, operational, and strategic effects, potentially derailing Russian plans for spring and summer operations in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts. Russian troops have halted advances in related directions, such as toward Hulyaipole, for three months and shifted focus elsewhere.

The gains come amid ongoing Russian pressure in northern regions like Sumy and Kharkiv, where Moscow seeks its own buffer zones along the border. Zelenskyy said on March 10 that Ukrainian defenses had blocked those efforts, with no immediate risks in Sumy. Despite Russian numerical superiority, nearly three times Ukraine's forces in the area, the localized operation highlights Kyiv's ability to disrupt enemy plans through targeted strikes.

No specific Russian casualties or responses were detailed in the announcements, but the retreats have compelled Moscow to redeploy units and delay broader offensives. This marks a rare reversal for Russian positions established in the fall of 2025.