As a result of the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023, Krynky was almost completely submerged, according to Tetiana Hasanenko, head of the Ukrainian military administration of the hromada.[5] Most of its residents fled to neighboring Kozachi Laheri, which was also largely flooded. Ukrainian authorities lost contact with the population of the community, as electricity and internet were completely lost for days.[3]
On 30 October 2023, during an incursion across the Dnieper, elements of the Ukrainian 37th and 38th separate Marine brigades had advanced to and recaptured Krynky.[6] Although no heavy equipment had been brought across the River, the Marines were supported by MRLs and artillery from the right bank. Supplies to the Ukrainian troops were maintained by small boats. Despite the reinforcements from the Russian 382nd, 337th airborne regiment at the end of 2023, Ukrainian marines were still holding parts of land around the village as of May 2024, and intense fighting continued for months, making largely a grey zoned battlefield.[7][8][9][10][11]
As of June 2024, the bridgehead probably ceased to exist and there was likely no longer any permanent Ukrainian presence in Krynky.[12][13] By 18 July, Russia retook the village after Ukrainian withdrawal.[14][15] Ukraine did not reveal the losses its forces suffered over the nine months in and around the bridgehead on Dnipro's east bank. Soldiers told the Kyiv Independent that "bodies lost to the river are nearly impossible to retrieve." However, a Ukrainian investigative outlet, citing the Ukrainian police, reported that 262 Ukrainian soldiers had been identified as killed and their bodies returned, while 788 remained missing in action, during the period from October 2023 to June 2024.[16][17]
^Martin Fornusek (21 October 2023). "ISW: Ukraine has success on left bank of Dnipro in Kherson Oblast". kyivindependent.com. The Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023. Geolocated footage published on Oct. 19 indicates that Ukrainian forces advanced into the northeastern part of Krynky, a village 35 kilometers east of Kherson and two kilometers south of the Dnipro River, the ISW reported.
^Christina Harward; Riley Bailey; Angelica Evans; Nicole Wolkov; Karolina Hird; Frederick W. Kagan (24 November 2023). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 24, 2023". understandingwar.org. ISW. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023. Geolocated footage published on November 23 confirms that both Russian and Ukrainian forces have advanced within Krynky, suggesting that intense fighting is ongoing in the settlement and positions are frequently changing hands.
^Christina Harward; Riley Bailey; Angelica Evans; Nicole Wolkov; Karolina Hird; Frederick W. Kagan (25 November 2023). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 25, 2023". understandingwar.org. ISW. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023. Russian milbloggers acknowledged that Ukrainian forces maintain positions in Krynky (30km northeast of Kherson City and 3km from the Dnipro River) but claimed that Russian forces shelled and attacked Ukrainian positions near and in the settlement.
^Olha Hlushchenko (11 December 2023). "Ukrainian defenders advance on Dnipro River's left bank in Kherson Oblast, fighting rages near Krynky – ISW". pravda.com.ua (in English, Ukrainian, and Russian). Ukrainska Pravda. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have reported that the Ukrainian Defence Forces are continuing ground operations on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, holding their positions and fighting with the Russians near the village of Krynky.
^Riley Bailey; Christina Harward; Nicole Wolkov; Grace Mappes; George Barros (7 June 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 7, 2024". understandingwar.org. ISW. Retrieved 8 June 2024. Another Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces operate on islands adjacent to Krynky and periodically enter the settlement in squad-sized groups.
^Angelica Evans; Riley Bailey; Karolina Hird; George Barros (17 July 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 17, 2024". understandingwar.org. ISW. Retrieved 18 July 2024. Russian sources claimed on July 17 that Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from positions in Krynky in the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast, although ISW has not observed confirmation of these claims. The Ukrainian General Staff reported continued positional fighting in the east bank of Kherson Oblast, including near Kozachi Laheri (west of Krynky), on July 16 and 17.
