Russian forces previously attempted to seize Dobropillia in August 2025, breaking through to the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk road before being stopped by Ukrainian assault regiments and air assault brigades.

Russian troops previously attempted to seize it in August 2025, when several brigades, exploiting poor coordination between Ukrainian commanders, broke through to the Dobropillia–Kramatorsk road. At the time, Ukraine's command had to assemble a fire brigade of assault regiments and air assault brigades to cut off the advancing Russian units.

Russian troops made a roughly 10-kilometer push toward the Dobropillia–Kramatorsk highway in Donetsk Oblast earlier this month, putting Dobropillia at a greater risk.