# Battle of Vovchansk

vteRussian invasion of Ukraine :
Timeline
February – April 2022
April – August 2022
August – November 2022
November 2022 – June 2023
June – August 2023
September – November 2023
December 2023 – March 2024
April 2024 – present
Prelude
Casualties
Territorial control
map
War crimes
Attacks on civilians
Economic impact
Peace negotiations
Collaboration with Russia
Russian emigration
Nuclear risk
Humanitarian impacts
Russian annexation
Treatment of prisoners of war :
The Battle of Vovchansk is an ongoing battle in and around the city of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, during the 2024 Kharkiv offensive of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

## Background

The city of Vovchansk is located approximately 5 km from the Russia–Ukraine border, situated around 45 km northeast of Kharkiv. The city was briefly occupied during the early stages of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and was recaptured by Ukraine on September 11, 2022, as part of a major counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast.
On May 10, 2024, Russia began reopening the Kharkiv front after being liberated by Ukrainian forces two years earlier. Vovchansk has remained the focal point of the front line since the Russian invasion. Fighting has been taking place in the villages of Pletenivka [uk], Hatyshche [uk],and Ohirtseve [uk], which are located north of the city of Vovchansk. Vovchansk began to come under heavy artillery fire on the night of 10 May, which continued the following day.
On May 11, 2024, Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian forces had captured the village of Tykhe [uk] and were attempting to advance to Vovchansk.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces have captured the village of Ohirtseve. Based on reports from senior Ukrainian officers that Russian troops have encircled Vovchansk, it is highly likely that Russian forces have also seized the villages of Hatyshche, located northwest of Vovchansk, and Tykhe, located east of Vovchansk. Additionally, the Ukrainian General Staff has reported that Russian forces have attacked the village of Buhruvatka, suggesting that Russian troops are likely consolidating their positions between the international border and the Buhruvatka-Starytsya region.
Russian troops advanced towards Vovchansk following the capture of Zelene and Lukiantsi on 12 May,.

## Battle

On May 12 of 2024, Russian troops advanced towards the settlement and managed to capture the Vovchansky meat processing plant [uk] located north of Vovchansk. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Instagram that "at the moment, the enemy has tactical success". Forbes reported that Ukrainian forces deployed Swedish CV90s in Vovchansk.
Russian milbloggers claim that Russian troops also captured a shoe factory in northern Vovchansk on the morning of May 13 and advanced to the center of Vovchansk to the northern bank of the river Vovcha by evening.
On 13 May, a shoe factory in the north of the town was captured in the morning and Russian troops advanced into the center of Vovchansk up to the northern (right) bank of the river Vovcha by evening, according to Russian milbloggers.
On 14 May Russian forces made gains in Vovchansk.
On 15 May Russian forces also made advances near Vovchansk as Vovchansk City Military Administration Head Tamaz Gambarashvili stated that small arms battles took place in the northern outskirts.
On 16 May Russian forces advanced within northern Vovchansk.
On 17 May Ukrainian sergeant operating near Vovchansk told the Wall Street Journal that Russian forces control the northern half of Vovchansk, although this was not independently verified.
On 18 May Russian forces continued offensive operations near and within Vovchansk but without success.
On 19 May Russian forces made advances in Vovchansk, namely in the northeast reportedly reaching the Vovcha River. Russian milbloggers gave conflicting reports, either claiming that Russian forces seized Starytsya and Buhruvatka, or that there where ongoing assaults there, along with Prylipka and Tykhe.
On 20 May, Deputy Governor Roman Semenukha claimed that Ukraine still controls 60% of Vovchansk. House to house fighting in Vovchask was also reported.
On 21 May, Russian milbloggers reported that Russian forces had crossed the Vovcha River, although this was disputed, with the Institute for the Study of War assessing that Russia probably maintained a small infantry foothold across the river, but with no vehicles or artillery. The Russian Ministry of Defense also claimed that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian counterattacks in Vovchansk.
On 22 May, heavy street fighting continued in Vovchansk, but despite this there was no change to the front-line situation.
On 23 May, Syrskyi stated that Russian forces where now "bogged down" in street fighting in Vovchansk, which was reflected by Russian milbloggers claims that fighting there had become "positional.
On 24 May, Russian milbloggers called the front-line in Vovchansk "stagnate" and reported on a failed effort by Russian forces to cross the Vovcha River.
On 25 May, Russian milbloggers claimed Russian forces destroyed a bridge over the Vovcha River near Tykhe to prevent Ukrainian counterattacks.
On 26 May, fighting continued within Vovchansk but without changes.
On 27 May, despite offensive actions by both Russia and Ukraine there was no change to the frontline in Vovchansk.
On 28 May, Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces had pushed some 200 meters or so towards the Vovchansk Aggregate Plant, while the Ukrainian general staff reported continued fighting southwest of Vovchansk near Starystya and northeast of Vovchansk near Tykhe. Khortytsia group of forces spokesmen Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshy reported that Russia had bombed Ukrainian positions near Vovchansk with TOS-2 thermobaric artillery systems.
On 29 May, Fierce urban fighting continues in the city of Vovchansk. Units of the Russian Armed Forces have reached the central part of the city and are storming a quarter of the nine-story buildings.
To hinder the attack of the Russian army, the Ukrainian army sets up firing points in residential areas according to Russians.
It was also reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are constantly transferring reserves to the Volchansk region and the Lipce area. In particular, it is known that the 101st brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was transferred to Vovchansk. From the information received from prisoners of war, it can be concluded that about half of the reserves transferred by Kiev are elite combat-ready units, the rest are conventional territorial defense brigades sent to the front line with almost no training and combat experience.
According to Russian governor of Kharkiv Oblast Vitaly Ganchev about 50% area of Vovchansk city is controlled by Russia.

## Strategic value of city

The strategic importance of the capture of Vovchansk by Russian forces lies in the expansion of the bridgehead towards Kharkiv. On this basis, the Ukrainian forces deploys significant forces to hold this settlement. This would allow the Russians to cover Kharkiv with artillery and shell it regularly.