The Dnipro City Council, at its 84th regular session held on August 19, officially changed the city's founding date. From now on, the year of Dnipro's founding is considered to be 1526, when, according to the conclusions of historians and archaeologists, the settlement of Stara Samara already existed on the territory of the modern metropolis. The new date was entered into the Charter of the Dnipro territorial community, and the city council emphasized that the decision would not require additional funds from the city budget. In fact, the city has 'aged' by 250 years: instead of the customary 250 years (counting from 1776), Dnipro now counts a 500-year history.
From Yekaterinoslav to Cossack Roots
Previously, the founding of Dnipro was traditionally associated with 1776 — the year when, by decree of Russian Empress Catherine II, the city of Yekaterinoslav was founded. The new official position returns the city to its Ukrainian Cossack roots, which, according to city council representatives, existed on this territory long before the imperial period. The review of the historical date was initiated back in August 2025: a special working group of historians and scientists determined the justified date of Dnipro's emergence, taking into account the history of Cossack settlements that functioned on this land before 1776.
Archaeological Basis: More Than 6,000 Artifacts
Sergiy Svetlenko, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Professor, explained that more than 6,000 archaeological artifacts and the results of large-scale excavations point to the year 1526. According to him, these findings confirm the duration of the urbanization process on the territory of the modern city. 'This change was overdue. We have been living in Ukrainian historical time and space for 35 years. And in accordance with these realities, we need to align the calculation of our metropolis — Dnipro,' the historian stated, adding that Ukrainian scientists have been discussing the issue of revising the date for about 25 years.
Contradictory Data
There remains a methodological discussion in the expert community about what exactly to understand as the 'founding date'. Proponents of the new version insist that 1526 reflects the real existence of the Stara Samara settlement and the continuity of the urban fabric, whereas the previous official date of 1776 fixed precisely the city's acquisition of the status of Yekaterinoslav within the imperial legal field. Thus, the issue is not about 'substituting' facts, but about changing the criterion of calculation: from an administrative act to an archaeologically confirmed settlement. Both dates continue to feature in the city's historical memory — 1776 as the founding date of Yekaterinoslav and 1526 as the date of the emergence of the settlement that gave rise to modern Dnipro.
Context: Ancient Finds in the Surroundings
The city council's decision fits into a broader context of archaeological discoveries in the region. Previously, it was reported that an archaeologist accidentally discovered a stone stele from the Eneolithic period, about 5,000 years old, in a forest near Dnipro, which local residents used for picnics, unaware of its historical value. Specialists suggest that the stele had a cult significance, and its form carries anthropomorphic and phallic features. These finds emphasize that the territory around Dnipro holds traces of settlements that predate both 1526 and 1776.
What This Changes in Practice
Practically, the decision is symbolic and identity-based: it enshrines a new historical framework in the community charter and allows the city to celebrate its 500th anniversary in 2026. Financial consequences for the budget, according to the city council's assurances, will not follow from the decision. Experts expect that the new date will become the basis for revising museum exhibitions, educational programs, and city holidays, and may also affect Dnipro's place in the rankings of the oldest cities in Ukraine.
