Russian occupation of Kharkiv Oblast

The Russian occupation of Kharkiv Oblast is an ongoing military occupation that began on 24 February 2022, after Russian forces invaded Ukraine and began capturing and occupying parts of Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. Russian forces failed to capture the capital city of the oblast, Kharkiv. However, other major cities including Izium, Kupiansk, and Balakliia were captured by Russian forces. Since November 2022, Russia only occupies a small portion of land in the Kharkiv Oblast.

Russian occupation of Kharkiv Oblast
Military occupation

  Territory never captured by Russian forces
  Previously Russian-held, now Ukrainian-held
  Territory currently under Russian control

Occupied countryUkraine
Occupying powerRussia
Russian-installed occupation regime
  • Kharkov
  • military-civilian administration (May 2022–present)
Russian invasion of Ukraine24 February 2022
Ukrainian Kharkiv counteroffensive6 September 2022
Russian northern Kharkiv offensive10 May 2024
Administrative centre
  • Kupiansk (until 8 September 2022)
  • Vovchansk (8 – 11 September)
  • Belgorod (since 11 September 2022)[citation needed]
Largest settlementIzium (until 10 September 2022)
Vovchansk (10–11 September)
Kivsharivka (11–28 September)
Borova (28 September – 3 October)
Tavilzhanka (3 October – 10 May 2024)
Strilecha (10 May 2024 – 28 January 2025)
Dvorichna (since 28 January)
Government
 • GovernorVitaly Ganchev
 • Prime MinisterAndrey Alekseyenko (in 2022)

In early September 2022, Ukraine began a major counteroffensive, regaining several settlements in the region and ending numerous Russian military or military-civilian administrations.

Background

The city of Vovchansk and the town of Velykyi Burluk came under Russian control on 24 February 2022, the first day of the Russian invasion. Shevchenkove came under Russian occupation on 26 February 2022. Russian forces entered Kupiansk on 27 February. Balakliia was taken by Russian forces on 2 March.

The city of Izium was captured by Russian forces on 1 April 2022.

History

In May 2022, a pro-Russian military-civilian administration was created for the Russian-controlled parts of Kharkiv Oblast. Four military-civilian raion (district-level) administrations were also established for Kupiansk Raion, Izium Raion, Kharkiv Raion and Vovchansk Raion.

Vitaly Ganchev, a former lieutenant colonel in the Ukrainian police, was made the head of the oblast military-civilian administration the same month. On 19 August Andrey Alekseyenko was appointed first deputy head of the Kharkiv Oblast military-civilian administration and Prime Minister.

On 8 July 2022, Ganchev said that Kharkiv Oblast was an "inalienable" part of Russian territory and intended for Kharkiv Oblast to be annexed by the Russian Federation via referendum. But on 11 August, Ganchev told the Russia-24 TV channel that the authorities of the territories of the Kharkiv Oblast controlled by Russian troops are not yet ready to discuss a referendum on joining Russia, because "only 20 percent and no more" of the region is under Russian control. According to Ukrainian intelligence, before the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russia planned to hold a referendum in Kharkiv Oblast in November, with a planned 75% vote in favour of joining Russia.

Ukraine began a counteroffensive in the Kharkiv Oblast in early September. By 10 September 2022, Ukraine recaptured Izium, ending the military-civilian administration and Russian occupation of the city. By 11 September, Russia had withdrawn from most of the settlements it previously occupied in the oblast, including Kupiansk, Vovchansk, Balakliia and Shevchenkove. The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced a formal withdrawal of Russian forces from all of Kharkiv Oblast west of the Oskil river stating that an "operation to curtail and transfer troops was underway."

The Kharkov Military-Civilian Administration, originally based in Kupiansk, briefly relocated to Vovchansk on 8 September 2022, but moved again before the city was recaptured by Ukrainian forces on 11 September 2022. By 18 September 2022, Russian forces only occupied a small strip of Kharkiv Oblast east of the Oskil. On 13 September 2022, Ukrainian forces had reportedly crossed the Oskil and had set up positions at multiple locations.

On 3 October 2022, Russian forces fled from Nyzhche Solone, Pidlyman, Nyzhnia Zhuravka, Borova, and Shyikivka, allowing Ukrainian authorities to regain control of almost all of the oblast.

After the 2022 Ukrainian counteroffensive

In a February 2023 interview, Ganchev said that the military-civilian administration was continuing its work, and that about twenty settlements in the Kharkiv Oblast were still under Russian control.

In a December 2024 interview, Ganchev said that there were about 2,000 civilians living in the Russian-controlled parts of Kharkiv Oblast, under frequent Ukrainian shelling and often without heat, electricity, and gas, due to the destruction of infrastructure over the course of the fighting. He said that a pro-Russian Kupiansk Raion military-civilian administration had continued its work even after the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive, and that at least 34 settlements in that area were under Russian control. Ganchev said that the administration provides the civilians there with social services and assistance in obtaining Russian citizenship, and that voting for the 2024 Russian presidential election was conducted in some settlements in the area.

By November 2024, in the northeastern part of the Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces crossed the Oskil River. On 28 January 2025, Russian officials claimed to have retaken the town of Dvorichna, which had a pre-war population of over 3,000 inhabitants.

In March 2025, Ganchev said that while about 70 settlements in the Kharkiv Oblast were under Russian control, his administration still only exercised authority over 34 of them.

On 5 August 2025, Russia entered the northern part of Kupiansk.

Human rights and humanitarian effect

According to The Guardian, inhabitants of occupied Izium had survived in their basements for three weeks without electricity, heating or running water. The report also claimed that Russian soldiers had prepared lists of individuals to "hunt": gun owners, wealthy people and others deemed "dangerous" such as businessmen, activists, military, and their families. The Russian army was also accused of barring passage of humanitarian convoys while food and medicine available in the city was running out.

Following the end of the Russian occupation on 10 September, multiple bodies were discovered in the town of Zaliznychne (uk), reportedly killed by Russian troops during the early days of the war.

Izium mass graves

On 15 September 2022, several mass graves, including one site containing at least 440 bodies, were found in woods near the Ukrainian city of Izium after it was recaptured by Ukrainian forces during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The graves contained bodies of people who were killed by Russian forces. The Ukrainian government believes that over 1,000 civilian residents were killed during the battle for and subsequent Russian occupation of Izium.

According to Ukrainian investigators, 447 bodies were discovered in one of the sites including 414 bodies of civilians (215 women, 194 men, 5 children) and 22 servicemen. Most of the dead showed signs of violent death and 30 presented traces of torture and summary execution, including ropes around their necks, bound hands, broken limbs and genital amputation; others might have died from shelling and a lack of access to healthcare.

On 26 September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that two more mass graves had been found "with hundreds of people".

Partisan and other resistance

On 3 April 2022, the Ukrainian government stated that two Russian soldiers were killed and 28 others hospitalized after Ukrainian civilians handed out poisoned cakes to Russian soldiers of the Russian 3rd Motor Rifle Division in Izium.

On 11 July 2022, the Russian-appointed military-civilian administration leader of Velykyi Burluk, Yevgeny Yunakov, was assassinated in a car bombing.

On 23 November 2023 the Russian-appointed deputy head of the occupation administration Oleksandr Slisarenko was killed when his car exploded in Belgorod, Russia. An anonymous source told Ukrainska Pravda that the Security Service of Ukraine was responsible for his killing.

Control of settlements

Name Pop. Raion Held by As of More information
Balakliia 26,921 Izium Ukraine 8 Sep 2022 Captured by  Russia on 3 March 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 8 September 2022.
Barvinkove 8,110 Izium Ukraine 30 Apr 2022
Berestove (uk) 230 Kupiansk Russia 15 Nov 2024 Pressured by  Russia between around 16–17 May 2024.
Contested by  Russia between around 18 May – 14 November 2024.
Claimed by  Russian sources between around 26–28 May 2024.
Confirmed captured by  Russia on 15 November 2024.
Bohodukhiv 15,797 Bohodukhiv Ukraine 24 Feb 2022
Bohuslavka 1330 Izium Ukraine 5 Oct 2022
Borivska Andriyivka 163 Izium Ukraine 5 Oct 2022
Borova 5,174 Izium Ukraine 3 Oct 2022 Captured by  Russia on 14 April 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 3 October 2022.
Borshchivka 3,139 Izium Ukraine 9 Sep 2022
Borysivka 533 Kharkiv Russia 10 May 2024 Recaptured by  Russia on 10 May 2024.
Buhaivka (uk) 1 Kharkiv Ukraine 12 May 2024
Buhruvatka (uk) 12 Chuhuiv Russia 14 May 2024 Pressured and contested by  Russia between 12–14 May 2024.
Recaptured by  Russia on 14 May 2024.
Cherkaski Tyshky 1,165 Kharkiv Ukraine 10 May 2022
Chkalovske 3,730 Chuhuiv Ukraine 9 Sep 2022 Captured by  Russia on 16 March 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 6 September 2022.
Chuhuiv 31,535 Chuhuiv Ukraine 7 Mar 2022 See Chuhuiv air base attack
Captured by  Russia on 25 February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 7 March 2022.
Derhachi 17,433 Kharkiv Ukraine 6 Apr 2022
Dovhenke 850 Izium Ukraine 22 Aug 2022 See Sloviansk offensive
Dvorichna 3,387 Kupiansk Russia 30 Nov 2024 Captured by  Russia on 14 April 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 11 September 2022.
Contested by  Russia since around 30 November 2024.
Claimed recaptured by  Russian sources on 15 December 2024.
Confirmed recaptured by  Russia by 28 January 2025.
Dvorichne 326 Kupiansk Russia 31 Dec 2023 Captured by  Russia in February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine 11 September 2022.
Contested between 2022–2023.
Recaptured by  Russia on 10 February 2023.
Fyholivka 104 Kupiansk Russia 6 Feb 2025 Recaptured by  Russia on 6 February 2025.
Ivanivka (uk) 135 Kupiansk Russia 9 Jun 2024 Pressured by  Russia on 23 May 2024.
Contested by  Russia between around 24–25 May 2024.
Recaptured by  Russia between around 25 May – 6 June 2024.
Izium 45,884 Izium Ukraine 10 Sep 2022 See Battle of Izium, Izium mass graves
Captured by  Russia on 27 March 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine by 10 September 2022.
Hatyshche 509 Chuhuiv Russia 12 May 2024 Recaptured by  Russia between around 10–11 May 2024.
Hlyboke 1,203 Kharkiv Contested 18 Jun 2024 Recaptured by  Russia between 11–13 May 2024.
Pressured by  Ukraine between around 7–16 June 2024.
Contested by  Ukraine since around 16 June 2024.
Holubivka 26 Kupiansk Russia 25 Jul 2025 Contested by  Russia before 25 July 2025.
Captured by  Russia on 25 July 2025.
Hoptivka 999 Kharkiv Ukraine? 12 May 2024
Horobivka 263 Kupiansk Russia 31 Dec 2023 Captured by  Russia in February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine by 24 September 2022.
Again recaptured by  Russia by 18 October 2022.
Hrushivka 1,277 Kupiansk Ukraine 8 Sep 2022
Hrianykivka 607 Kupiansk Russia 30 Dec 2023
Husarivka 1,352 Izium Ukraine 27 Mar 2022 Captured by  Russia in 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 26/27 March 2022.
Izbytske 37 Chuhuiv Ukraine 11 May 2024 [citation needed]
Kalynove (uk) - Kupiansk Ukraine 31 Dec 2023 [citation needed]
Kamianka (uk) 961 Kupiansk Ukraine 30 Dec 2023 [citation needed]
Kharkiv 1,433,886 Kharkiv Ukraine 2 Mar 2022 See Battle of Kharkiv, Kharkiv cluster bombing, Dormitories missile strike
Khotimlia 1,351 Chuhuiv Ukraine 29 Feb 2024 Captured by  Russia on 24 February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 10 September or 15 September 2022.
Kivsharivka 18,302 Kupiansk Ukraine 28 Sep 2022 Сaptured by  Russia in 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 28 September.
Kochetok 2,968 Chuhuiv Ukraine 3 May 2022
Kotliarivka 255 Kupiansk Russia 5 May 2024 Pressured by  Russia between around 28 January – 1 February 2024.
Pressured and contested by  Russia between 27 April – 4 May 2024.
Recaptured by  Russia on 4 May 2024.
Kozacha Lopan 5,005 Kharkiv Ukraine 11 Sep 2022 Captured by  Russia in February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine 11 September 2022.
Krasne 20 Kharkiv Russia 10 May 2024 Recaptured by  Russia on 10 May 2024.
Krasne Pershe (uk) 84 Kupiansk Ukraine 30 Dec 2023
Krasnohrad 20,013 Krasnohrad Ukraine 24 Feb 2022
Krokhmalne 45 Kupiansk Russia 20 Jan 2024 Recaptured by  Russia on 20 January 2024.
Kruhliakivka 1,173 Kupiansk Russia 31 Oct 2024 Contested by  Russia between around 19–30 October 2024.[when?]
Claimed captured by  Russia on 30 October 2024.
Confirmed captured by  Russia on 31 October 2024.
Kudiivka (uk) 22 Kharkiv Ukraine 12 May 2024 Claimed pressured by a  Russian source since around 10–12 May 2024.
Kupiansk 27,169 Kupiansk Contested 25 Jul 2025 Captured by  Russia 27 February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine by 10 September 2022.
Contested by  Russia between 14–24 November 2024.
Contested by  Russia since 25 July 2025.
Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi 8,397 Kupiansk Ukraine 26 Sep 2022 Captured by  Russia in 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 26 September 2022.
Kutuzivka 1,184 Kharkiv Ukraine 28 Apr 2022
Kyslivka 965 Kupiansk Russia 6 May 2024 Contested by  Russia between around 26 April and 6 May 2024.
Recaptured by  Russia around 6 May 2024.
Lebyazhe 1,534 Chuhuiv Ukraine 20 Apr 2022
Liubotyn 20,376 Kharkiv Ukraine 24 Feb 2022
Lozova 54,026 Lozova Ukraine 24 Feb 2022
Lozova (uk) 64 Izium Russia 26 Dec 2024 Captured by  Russia around 24 December 2024.
Lukiantsi 1,242 Kharkiv Russia 15 May 2024 Pressured by  Russia around 11 May 2024.
Contested by  Russia around 12 May 2024.
Recaptured by  Russia on 13 May 2024.
Lyman Pershyi 280 Kupiansk Russia 19 Dec 2023 Captured by  Russia in February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine by 1 October 2022.[better source needed]
Again recaptured by  Russia on 16 February 2023.
Lyptsi 4,182 Kharkiv Ukraine 25 May 2024 Captured by  Russia in 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine 11 September 2022.
Pressured by  Russia between around 16–25 May 2024.
Malynivka 7,500 Chuhuiv Ukraine 5 Apr 2022 Captured by  Russia in early 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 5 April 2022.
Merefa 21,421 Kharkiv Ukraine 24 Feb 2022
Milove (uk) 508 Kupiansk Contested 12 Jul 2025 Contested by  Russia since 12 July 2025.
Molodova 595 Chuhuiv Ukraine 3 May 2022
Morokhovets 44 Kharkiv Russia 11 May 2024 Recaptured by  Russia on 11 May 2024.
Novomlynsk (uk) 16 Kupiansk Russia 31 Jan 2025 Captured by  Russia on 24 February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 10 September 2022.
Claimed by  Russian sources on 4 June 2023.
Recaptured by  Russian forces in early January 2025.
Ohirtseve (uk) 234 Chuhuiv Russia 11 May 2024 Recaptured by  Russia around 10 May 2024.
Oliinykove 8 Kharkiv Russia 11 May 2024 Recaptured by  Russia on 11 May 2024.
Oskil 3,217 Izium Ukraine 7 Sep 2022 Captured by Donetsk PR on 5 May 2022.[citation needed]
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 7 September 2022.
Pechenihy 5,058 Chuhuiv Ukraine 3 May 2022
Pervomaiskyi 28,986 Lozova Ukraine 24 Feb 2022
Petropavlivka 2,452 Kupiansk Contested 13 Sep 2024 Contested by  Russia since around 12 September 2024.
Pishchane 528 Kupiansk Russia 20 Jul 2024 Claimed pressured by a  Russian source between 16 June – 5 July 2024.
Contested by  Russia between 6 – 19 July 2024.
Captured by  Russia on 20 July 2024.
Pisky-Radkivski 2,507 Izium Ukraine 26 Sep 2022

Captured by  Russia on 2 March 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 26 September 2022.

Pivdenne 7,394 Kharkiv Ukraine 24 Feb 2022
Pletenivka (uk) 124 Chuhuiv Russia 11 May 2024 Recaptured by  Russia around 10 May 2024.
Protopopivka 1,253 Izium Ukraine 4 May 2022
Prylipka (uk) 12 Chuhuiv Ukraine 21 May 2024 Pressured by  Russia since around 21 May 2024.
Pylna 220 Kharkiv Russia 10 May 2024 Recaptured by  Russia on 10 May 2024.
Radkivka (uk) 39 Kupiansk Ukraine 12 Dec 2025 Contested by  Russia before 23 July 2025.
Captured by  Russia on 23 July 2025.
Recaptured by  Ukraine 12 December 2025.
Rubizhne 649 Chuhuiv Ukraine 11 Sep 2022 Recaptured by  Russia 19 May 2022.
Ukrainian control claimed by Ukrainian sources as of 17 June 2022.
Russian forces in control as of 23 August.
Recaptured by  Ukraine 11 September 2022.
Ruska Lozova 5,016 Kharkiv Ukraine 6 May 2022
Ruski Tyshky 1,908 Kharkiv Ukraine 10 May 2022
Savyntsi 5,266 Izium Ukraine 8 Sep 2022 Captured by  Russia in 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 8 September 2022.
Shevchenkove 6,724 Kupiansk Ukraine 8 Sep 2022 Captured by  Russia 26 February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 7 September 2022.
Slatyne 6,076 Kharkiv Ukraine 9 Apr 2022
Sotnytskyi Kozachok 177 Bohodukhiv Contested 4 Jul 2024 Raided by  Russia on 26 June 2024.
Raided by  Russia and claimed captured on 4 July 2024.
Staryi Saltiv 3,394 Chuhuiv Ukraine 2 May 2022 Captured by  Russia in 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 2 May 2022.
Starytsia 486 Chuhuiv Contested 19 Jun 2024 Pressured by  Russia between 11–14 May 2024.
Contested by  Russia since 14 May 2024.
Claimed by  Russian sources between 15–18 May 2024.
Strilecha 2,097 Kharkiv Russia 10 May 2024 Captured by  Russia on 24 February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 13 September 2022.
Recaptured by  Russia on 10 May 2024.
Stroivka 31 Kupiansk Russia 29 May 2025 Contested by  Russia since 27 May 2025.
Captured by  Russia on 29 May 2025.
Studenok 1,440 Izium Ukraine 18 Sep 2022 Captured by  Russia on March 2022.
Multiple reports said Russian forces withdrew 15 September 2022.
Synkivka 389 Kupiansk Russia 7 Sep 2024 Captured by  Russia in 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine in the Kharkiv counteroffensive.
Contested by  Russia between around 28 November 2023 – 5 September 2024.
Captured by  Russia on 6 September 2024.
Tabaivka 34 Kupiansk Russia 28 Feb 2024 Recaptured by  Russia on 27 January 2024.
Tavilzhanka 1,924 Kupiansk Russia 22 Nov 2022 Captured by  Russia.[self-published source?]
Ternova 907 Kharkiv Ukraine 13 May 2024
Tymkivka (ru) N/A Kupiansk Ukraine 11 Jun 2024 Claimed by  Russian sources on 11 June 2024.
Tokarivka 16 Kharkiv Ukraine 12 May 2024
Topoli (rural settlement) 261 Kupiansk Russia 23 Mar 2025 Captured by  Russia in February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on about 11 September 2022. Demined by 7 September 2023.
Recaptured by  Russia on 23 March 2025.
Topoli (village) 860 Kupiansk Russia 8 Mar 2022 Captured by  Russia on 25 February 2022.
Tsyrkuny 6,310 Kharkiv Ukraine 7 May 2022
Tykhe 163 Chuhuiv Contested 19 Jun 2024 Recaptured by  Russia around 11 May 2024.[dubious – discuss]
Recaptured by  Ukraine around 18 June 2024.[dubious – discuss]
Contested by  Russia since around 12 January 2025.
Udy 1,677 Bohodukhiv Ukraine 11 Sep 2022  Russia advanced in the settlement on 28 August.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 11 September 2022.
Valky 8,721 Bohodukhiv Ukraine 24 Feb 2022
Velykyi Burluk 3,656 Kupiansk Ukraine 11 Sep 2022 Captured by  Russia on 24 February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 10 September 2022.
Verbivka 3,515 Izium Ukraine 7 Sep 2022
Vilshana 1,500 Kupiansk Russia 1 Mar 2022 Captured by  Russia on 1 March 2022.[self-published source?]
Vovchansk 17,747 Chuhuiv Contested 12 May 2024 Captured by  Russia on 24 February 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine on 11 September 2022.
Pressured by  Russia on 11 May 2024.
Contested by  Russia since 12 May 2024.
Vovchanski Khutory 1,340 Chuhuiv Ukraine 18 May 2024 Claimed shared control by  Russian sources since around 17 May 2024.
Yakovenkove 1,123 Izium Ukraine 8 Sep 2022 Recaptured by  Ukraine on 7 September 2022.
Zapadne 345 Kupiansk Russia 6 Feb 2025 Claimed recaptured by  Russia on 22 January 2025.
Confirmed recaptured by  Russia on 5 February 2025.
Zmiiv 14,071 Chuhuiv Ukraine 24 Feb 2022
Zolochiv 7,926 Bohodukhiv Ukraine 10 Apr 2022
Zybyne 115 Chuhuiv Ukraine 18 May 2024 Claimed pressured and contested by  Russian sources between 12–18 May 2024.
Claimed by  Russian sources on 17 May 2024.

See also

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