Authorities order mandatory evacuation of 16 frontline settlements in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

On August 18, regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha announced mandatory evacuations for 16 settlements located in the Mykolaivka, Petropavlivka, and Ukrainska communities within the Synelnykove district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Hanzha explained that families with children have one month to relocate, as parents and legal guardians must transport 2,177 children to safer areas.

The National Police and volunteers are currently aiding families in the relocation process, with evacuation routes chosen based on security conditions. Armored vehicles and bulletproof vests will be made available to support the efforts.

Hanzha clarified that the first step in the evacuation process involves families moving to transit centers, where they will be provided with necessary housing assistance. Earlier on August 4, Hanzha had reported on the forced evacuation of children from 10 villages in the Bohynivka community of Synelnykove district. Currently, about one-third of the targeted population has already left, although some families remain hesitant to evacuate.

Local officials and charitable organizations are continuing their work to encourage reluctant families to relocate.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed the public on August 12 that Ukrainian forces had liberated 745 square kilometers of territory between January 29 and August 2026, restoring control to 26 villages across Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. Suspilne reported on August 17, citing an unnamed source within the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, that military operations aimed at liberating settlements from Russian occupation are ongoing in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, with the village of Dachne still under Russian control.