Stepove, Donetsk Oblast
{{Other places|Stepove (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Stepove
| native_name = Степове
| native_name_lang = uk
| pushpin_map = Ukraine Donetsk Oblast#Ukraine
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|48|11|45|N|37|40|44|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{Flagu|Ukraine}}
| subdivision_type1 = Oblast
| subdivision_name1 = {{Flagcountry|Donetsk Oblast}}
| subdivision_type2 = Raion
| subdivision_name2 ={{Flagicon image|Flag of Pokrovsk Raion, Ukraine.png}} Pokrovsk
| subdivision_type3 = Hromada
| subdivision_name3 = Ocheretyne Settlement
| unit_pref = Metric
| population_as_of = 2001
| population_total = 62
}}
Stepove ({{Langx|uk|Степове́}} {{IPA|uk|stepoˈʋɛ|}}) is a rural-type settlement in Ocheretyne settlement hromada, Pokrovsk Raion, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Степове - Донецька область |url=https://decentralization.gov.ua/locality/26642 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=decentralization.gov.ua}} It is located {{convert|3|km|mi}} northwest of the city Avdiivka.{{Cite web |date=3 December 2023 |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 3, 2023 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-3-2023 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en|first1=Nicole |last1=Wolkov |first2=Christina |last2=Harward |first3=Riley |last3=Bailey |first4=Grace |last4=Mappes |first5=Frederick W. |last5=Kagan}} Before 2016, it was known as Petrivske ({{langx|uk|Петрі́вське|link=no}} As part of decommunization in Ukraine in 2016, it was renamed to Stepove.{{Cite web |url=http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1377-VIII |title=Постановление Верховной Рады Украины от 17 марта 2016 года № 1377-VIII «О переименовании отдельных населённых пунктов и районов» |access-date=2016-06-07 |archive-date=2016-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603053748/http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1377-viii |url-status=live }}
Russian invasion of Ukraine
{{See also|Russian invasion of Ukraine}}
In late 2023 and early 2024, Stepove was a site of fighting during the battle of Avdiivka of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On December 3, 2023, Russian forces were accused of committing a war crime when they murdered two unarmed surrendering Ukrainian soldiers near Stepove.{{Cite news |date=2023-12-03 |title=Ukraine war: Russia accused of killing unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67607857 |access-date=2023-12-04}}
On 24 February 2024, Russian troops had seized control over the village.{{Cite news|title=Russian troops capture two more villages west of Avdiivka|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/02/27/7443889/|access-date=2024-02-27|website=Ukrainian Pravda}}
Demographics
According to the 2001 Ukrainian census, the village had a population of 62 people, of whom 35.48% natively spoke Ukrainian and 64.52% natively spoke Russian.{{Cite web |title=Розподіл населення за рідною мовою, Донецька область |url=http://database.ukrcensus.gov.ua/MULT/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=19A050501_02_014&ti=19A050501_02_014.%20%D0%EE%E7%EF%EE%E4%B3%EB%20%ED%E0%F1%E5%EB%E5%ED%ED%FF%20%E7%E0%20%F0%B3%E4%ED%EE%FE%20%EC%EE%E2%EE%FE%2C%20%C4%EE%ED%E5%F6%FC%EA%E0%20%EE%E1%EB%E0%F1%F2%FC%20%281%2C2%2C3%2C4%29&path=..%2FDatabase%2FCensus%2F05%2F01%2F&lang=1&multilang=uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305150244/http://database.ukrcensus.gov.ua/mult/dialog/varval.asp?lang=1&ma=19a050501_02_014&multilang=uk&path=..%2Fdatabase%2Fcensus%2F05%2F01%2F&ti=19a050501_02_014.%20%D0%EE%E7%EF%EE%E4%B3%EB%20%ED%E0%F1%E5%EB%E5%ED%ED%FF%20%E7%E0%20%F0%B3%E4%ED%EE%FE%20%EC%EE%E2%EE%FE%2C%20%C4%EE%ED%E5%F6%FC%EA%E0%20%EE%E1%EB%E0%F1%F2%FC%20%281%2C2%2C3%2C4%29 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |access-date=2016-10-15}}