The Russian occupation of Kharkiv Oblast, officially the Kharkov Military–Civilian Administration,[b] 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. As of November 2022, Russian forces only occupy a small portion of land in the Kharkiv Oblast.
In early September 2022,
Ukraine began a major counteroffensive, regaining several settlements in the region and ending numerous Russian military or military-civilian administrations.[4] By 11 September, Russia had withdrawn from most of the settlements it previously occupied in the oblast, including Izium, Kupiansk and
Vovchansk.[3] 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."[5][6]
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.[7][8] As of 18 September 2022, Russian forces only occupy 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.[9] On 16 September 2022, Ukrainian forces claimed to have recaptured
Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, Kupiansk's sister city on the eastern bank of the Oskil.[10]
On 3 October 2022, Russian forces fled from Nyzhche Solone, Pidlyman, Nyzhnya Zhuravka,
Borova, and Shyikivka, allowing Ukrainian authorities to regain control of almost all of the oblast.[11][12]
On 21 April 2022, Russia appointed Vitaly Ganchev as head of the Kharkiv Oblast military-civilian administration.[13] On 19 August
Andrey Alekseyenko was appointed first deputy head of the Kharkiv Oblast military-civilian administration and Prime Minister.[14]
On 8 July 2022, Vitaly Ganchev said that Kharkiv Oblast is an "inalienable" part of Russian territory and intended for Kharkiv Oblast to be
annexed by the Russian Federation via referendum.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17][18]
Ukraine began a
counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region in early September. As of 10 September 2022, Ukraine recaptured Izium, ending the military-civilian administration and Russian occupation of the city.[4]
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.[19] 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.[19] The Russian army was also accused of barring passage of humanitarian convoys while food and medicine available in the city was running out.[19]
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.[20]
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.[21][22] The graves contained bodies of people who were killed by Russian forces.[23][24][25] The Ukrainian government believes that over 1,000 people were killed during the battle for and subsequent Russian occupation of Izium.[26][27]
According to Ukrainian investigators, 447 bodies were discovered in one of the sites including 414 bodies of civilians (215 men, 194 women, 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;[28] others might have died from shelling and a lack of access to healthcare.[29]
On 26 September, Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that two more mass graves had been found "with hundreds of people".[30]
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.[31][32]
On 23 November 2023 the Russian-appointed Deputy Head of the occupation administration Oleksandr Slisarenko was killed when his car exploded in
Belgorod,
Russia.[34] An anonymous source told Ukrainska Pravda that the
Security Service of Ukraine was responsible for his killing.[34]
Captured by Russia in February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 11 September 2022.[45] The village would change hands multiple times from then,[46] Again recaptured by Russia in 10 February 2023.[47]
^
abHird, Karolina; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Lawlor, Katherine; Mappes, Grace; Bailey, Riley; Kagan, Frederick (4 October 2022).
"Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 4". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
^Lawlor, Katherine; Hird, Karolina; Mappes, Grace; Bailey, Riley; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W. (19 October 2022).
"Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 19". Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) Deputy Internal Minister Vitaly Kiselyov reiterated claims that Russian forces captured Horobivka (17km northeast of Kupyansk) on October 18, although ISW cannot independently verify that Russian forces have captured the settlement.
^Bailey, Riley; Wolkov, Nicole; Evans, Angelica; Harward, Christina; Mappes, Grace; Barros, George (1 February 2024).
"Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 1, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
^Evans, Angelica; Harward, Christina; Wolkov, Nicole; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Kagan, Frederick W. (28 January 2024).
"Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 28, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 30 January 2024. Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced in Berestove (28km southeast of Kupyansk) and possibly seized Kotlyarivka
^
abEvans, Angelica; Wolkov, Nicole; Bailey, Riley; Hird, Karolina; Kagan, Frederick W. (20 January 2024).
"Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 20, 2024". Institute for the Study of War.
Archived from the original on 21 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024. Geolocated imagery published on January 20 indicates that Russian forces captured Krokhmalne (20km northwest of Svatove)
^Hird, Karolina; Evans, Angelica; Bailey, Riley; Mappes, Grace; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W. (1 December 2023).
"Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 1, 2023".
Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 19 December 2023. Russian sources claimed that heavy fighting is ongoing near Synkivka […] and that Russian forces also attacked near Lyman Pershyi
^Bailey, Riley; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Evans, Angelica; Wolkov, Nicole; Barros, George; Clark, Mason (28 November 2023).
"Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 28, 2023". Critical Threats.
Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023. Geolocated footage published on November 27 and 28 indicates that Russian forces advanced north of Synkivka (9km northeast of Kupyansk) and west of Pershotravneve (20km northeast of Kupyansk).
^
abEvans, Angelica; Bailey, Riley; Mappes, Grace; Hird, Karolina; Kagan, Frederick W. (28 February 2024).
"Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 28, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 29 February 2024. Geolocated footage published on February 28 shows that Russian forces advanced into Tabaivka (northwest of Svatove).
^Bailey, Riley; Harward, Christina; Wolkov, Nicole; Evans, Angelica; Kagan, Frederick W. (27 January 2024).
"Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 27, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 30 January 2024. Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian elements of the 47th Tank Division (1st Guards Tank Army, Western Military District [WMD]) captured Tabaivka (southeast of Kupyansk)