# 2024 Northeastern Ukraine offensive

vteRussian invasion of Ukraine :
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February – April 2022
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April 2024 – present
Prelude
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map
War crimes
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Economic impact
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Russian annexation
Treatment of prisoners of war :
On 10 May 2024, the Russian Armed Forces began an offensive operation in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast, shelling and attempting to breach the defenses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the direction of Vovchansk and Kharkiv. The Guardian reported that the offensive has led to Russia's biggest territorial gains in 18 months.
The Russian Armed Forces later launched a separate offensive into the Sumy region on 9 June.

## Background

In the first months of their invasion, the Russian Armed Forces managed to conquer large parts of northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, including the towns of Kupiansk, Izium, Shevchenkove, and Balakliia. Following a counteroffensive in September 2022, Ukrainian forces were able to recapture these settlements and push Russian forces out of almost the entire oblast.
During the first months of 2024, reports appeared that the Russian army was rebuilding its forces in the north to launch a new offensive in the direction of Kharkiv later that year. Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had also repeatedly threatened to attack Kharkiv Oblast and establish a buffer zone to protect Russia's Belgorod Oblast in response to cross-border attacks by Ukraine. On 8 May 2024, the governor of Kharkiv Oblast, Oleh Syniehubov, reported a large gathering of Russian forces north of the region. The secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, subsequently said that over 50,000 Russian soldiers had been deployed to the border.

## Offensive
### Timeline
#### 10 May

According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian forces shelled positions with guided bombs in the direction of Vovchansk during the day and added artillery fire at night. An attempt to break through the front line was recorded at 5:00 am on 10 May. Up to 4–5 Russian infantry battalions from a newly created force crossed the state border, reportedly capturing the villages of Krasne, Borysivka, Strilecha, and Pylna. Ukraine's armed forces urged residents of northern Kharkiv Oblast to evacuate. The secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, subsequently said that over 30,000 Russian soldiers were involved in the offensive. Communication in the Ukrainian military was temporarily disrupted due to Starlink devices having been knocked out.
According to Ukrainian military journalist Yuri Butusov, the captured border area had been a "gray zone" behind the Ukrainian defensive line with no Ukrainian military presence, with the exception of Strilecha. Syniehubov also referred to the affected villages as a "gray zone", claiming that "the Ukrainian armed forces have not lost a single meter". According to DeepStateMap.Live analysts, citing confidential sources, Russian forces had occupied the village of Pylna several days before 10 May, but poor communication within the Ukrainian military had prevented any action from being taken.
Later in the afternoon, reserve units were sent to Kharkiv Oblast to hold the front line, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that artillery had thus far been able to repel the Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast and that Russia may pull more reserves to support the offensive but that Ukraine's armed forces were ready to resist them.
Later that day a senior Ukrainian commander said that Russian forces had pushed Ukrainian forces back by one kilometer from the Russian-Ukrainian border and were aiming to advance 10 kilometers into Ukraine. The border city of Vovchansk was subjected to "massive shelling" and residents were evacuated.
Fighting was also reported in the villages of Pletenivka [uk], Hatyshche [uk], Hoptivka, Morokhovets, Oliinykove and Ohirtseve [uk]. Russian bloggers claimed that Pletenivka, Hatyshche, Ohirtseve and Zelene [uk] had come under Russian control, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which was unable to verify the claims. Ukraine's 42nd Mechanized Brigade published footage of its "Perun" unit destroying four Russian BMP infantry fighting vehicles in the area of Pylna using combat drones, claiming to have inflicted several casualties.
A member of the Ukrainian partisan movement Atesh allegedly serving in the Russian military claimed that parts of his unit, a motorised rifle battalion of the 44th Army Corps, refused to participate in the assault on Kharkiv Oblast, owing to the failure of previous sabotage and reconnaissance and the strength of Ukrainian fortifications.
By 10 May, Russian forces, according to the ISW, had seized around "35 square miles of territory", although Ukrainian forces claimed to have pushed Russian forces back.

#### 11 May

The Ukrainians claimed to have destroyed 20 Russian units of armored equipment during the previous day's offensive. Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman of Ukraine's Khortytsia operational-strategic group, claimed that the Russians were contained in the "gray zone" and that the offensive had effectively been repelled.
According to the ISW, geolocated footage published on 11 May indicated that Morokhovets, Oliinykove and Ohirtseve had come under Russian control. Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian forces had also captured the villages of Hoptivka, Kudiivka [uk] and Tykhe [uk], and were trying to advance into Vovchansk, though the think tank said it had not observed evidence to verify these claims. The Russian defence ministry claimed in a briefing that its forces had taken five villages: Strilecha, Pylna, Borysivka, Ohirtseve and Pletenivka.

#### 12 May

The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that its forces had captured the villages of Hatyshche, Krasne, Morokhovets and Oliinykove.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote on Telegram that the situation in Kharkiv Oblast had "significantly worsened". Amid claims by Russian and Ukrainian sources of combat within Vovchansk, ISW assessed that Hatyshche, Pletenivka and Tykhe had come under Russian control.

#### 13 May

Ukrainian outlets Rubryka and Ukrainska Pravda reported that the DeepState map indicated that Russian forces had taken control over the village of Zelene, while the village of Lukiantsi was almost wholly occupied.
Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces partially withdrew from the village of Ternova following clashes nearby however the status of the village is currently unknown.
Ukrainian forces claimed to have killed over 100 Russian soldiers in the last 24 hours in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Some five Russian battalions were involved in Vovchansk. Ukrainian officials acknowledged that Russian forces had made "tactical gains" and that Ukrainian forces appeared to be avoiding direct engagements with Russian forces. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Facebook that its forces were "conducting defensive operations, inflicting fire damage on the enemy, widely using unmanned systems for reconnaissance and launching pinpoint strikes to inflict maximum damage" adding that reserves were being deployed to "stabilize the situation."

#### 14 May

DeepState reported that the village of Zelene was still under Ukrainian control despite heavy fighting in the area.
Russian sources claimed that Russian forces have seized the entirety of Lukyantsi, however, this was not independently confirmed. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces "repositioned" near Lukyantsi to save the lives of Ukrainian personnel. The Institute for the Study of War called this a "tacit acknowledgment of Russian advances into the settlement." Russian forces also made gains in Vovchansk and advanced into central Buhruvatka [uk] with the Russian ministry of defense claiming that they had fully secured the village, although, geolocated footage still reported some fighting in it's southern outskirts.

#### 15 May

Russian forces made advances east of Hlyboke and along the east bank of the Travyanske Reservoir. Russian milbloggers claimed Russian forces captured Starytsya, Hlyboke and Lukyantsi, although this was not confirmed by either Ukraine nor the Russian ministry of defense. Lyptsi Village Military Administration Head Serhiy Kryvetchenko stated Russian forces have entered Lukyantsi while the Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian assaults between Borysivka and Neskuchne. 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, while Russian sources reported on Russian assaults near Izbitske and Buhruvatka.

#### 16 May

President Zelenskyy arrived in Kharkiv to meet with the top brass of the Ukrainian military and said that the situation in Kharkiv is "very difficult but under control".
Ukrainian soldiers, fighting near Kharkiv, reported that they had "never seen anything close to the number of Lancets (drones) flying" in comparison to earlier battles. However Ukrainian soldiers reported that they did not have to ration shells as in earlier battles. Russian forces reduced the number of armoured vehicles assaults allegedly due to losses, while using smaller groups of infantry, 5-20, in assaults. With the ISW writing: the "tempo of Russian offensive operations in the area continues to decrease".
Russian forces took control of Lukyantsi and continued operations towards Lyptsi, Hlyboke, and Pylna. Russian forces also advanced within northern Vovchansk and made marginal gains in northeastern Starytsa while continuing offensive operations near Starytsya and Pletenivka.

#### 17 May

Russian president Vladimir Putin made for the first time statements regarding the new offensive, claiming Russia's current plan is the creation of a "buffer zone" in order to stop Ukrainian shelling of Belgorod and to protect the border areas. According to him, there are no plans to capture the city of Kharkiv as of now.
Zelenskyy acknowledged that Russian forces had advanced by as much as ten kilometers into Kharkiv Oblast, but claimed that they were being held back by primary Ukrainian defensive lines.
Two people were killed and 25 were wounded in a Russian airstrike in Kharkiv.
Russian forces continued offensive operations near Lyptsi while Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced south of Hlyboke and are fighting on the outskirts of Lyptsi. Other Russian sources claimed that Russia was operating near Lukyantsi, Zelene, Vovchansk and Tykhe. A 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.

#### 18 May

Russia claimed to have taken control of the village of Starytsia. The Institute for the Study of War denied this, reporting that it was only confirmed Russian forces where operating in the northeastern outskirts of the settlement, and did not have control over the whole settlement.
Russian forces continued offensive operations near Lyptsi, Lukyantsi, and Hlyboke. Russian forces also continued offensive operations near Zelene and near and within Vovchansk. The Russian ministry of defense again claimed that the Russian army had captured Zybyne, which the ISW also reported as being unconfirmed. The Russian ministry of defense also claimed to have repelled Ukrainian counterattacks near Tykhe and that they where advancing near Buhruvatka.

#### 19 May

Russian forces continued offensive operations near Lyptsi, Hlyboke and Zelene with no change to the front-line. 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.

#### 20 May

Both Russian and Ukrainian sources reported on Russian assaults on Lyptsi, Zelene, and Lukyantsi, with no confirmed change in the front-line situation. Russian forces also made marginal gains in central Vovchansk, with Russian milbloggers reporting on positional battles in Starytsya and Buhruvatka, while Russian armor was active between Ohirtseve and Buhruvatka.

#### 21 May

Russian milbloggers reported assaults near Lyptsi and Starytsya, and that a force 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 and near Starytsya.

#### 22 May

Russian forces continued offensive operations near Lyptsi, while Russian sources reported offensive actions near Zelene, Tykhe, Volokhivka, Chaikhivka, Okhrimivka, Buhruvatka , and Mala Vovcha, as well as continued street fighting in Vovchansk. Despite this there was no change to the front-line situation.

#### 23 May

The Kyiv Independent wrote that the offensive was "stretching Ukrainian defenses thin".
Russian forces attacked the cities of Kharkiv, Liubotyn and Zolochiv with around 15 S-300 missiles, killing seven people and injuring over a dozen others.
Ukrainian forces recaptured "marginal territory" southeast of Lukyantsi while Russian sources reported that Ukraine launched counter-attacks on Lyptsi and Hlyboke. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Russian forces switched to an "active defense" in the Lyptsi direction, and where no longer preforming offensive actions there. Syrskyi also 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." Russian forces also continued ground attacks near Starytsya.

#### 24 May

Despite Russian assaults in the Lyptsi direction near Hlyboke and on the eastern side of the Travyanske Reservoir there was no change in the front line, and the Ukrainian general staff reported that they have "halted" the Russian advance and "stabilized" the situation along the border. Russian milbloggers reflected this sentiment, calling the front-line "stagnate" and reported on a failed effort by Russian forces to cross the Vovcha River.

#### 25 May

The Epicentr K Hypermarket in Kharkiv was struck, allegedly per local officials, by two Russian glide bombs, killing at least 16 and wounding 43 others. A strike on a residential area reportedly wounded at least 20 as well.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russian losses were 8 times higher than Ukraine's during the Kharkiv Offensive.
Zelensky also reported that Ukrainian artillery had restored "combat control" over an unspecified section of the Kharkiv front while the Ukrainian General Staff reported that they where pushing Russian forces back across the front-line. A Russian assault in the Strilecha-Hlyboke direction was reported to be thwarted by a local officer. Meanwhile the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian counterattacks near Hlyboke while Russian milbloggers reported that Russian forces where "struggling" to advance. Russian forces also continued assaults near Starytsya, Vovchansk, and Tykhe while milbloggers claimed Russian forces destroyed a bridge over the Vovcha River near Tykhe to prevent Ukrainian counterattacks.

#### 26 May

Ukrainian forces regained positions near Lyptsi with the Khortytsia Group of Forces spokesmen Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn reporting that Ukrainian forces had pushed Russian forces out of positions in the direction of Strilecha-Hlyboke, and stopped a Russian offensive action along the Hlyboke-Lyptsi road. Additionally, fighting continued near Hlyboke, Lukyantsi, Neskuchne, Starytsya and within Vovchansk.

#### 27 May

The State Bureau of Investigation revealed that they were investigating why the command of the 125th Territorial Defense Brigade, 415th Separate Rifle Battalion, 23rd Mechanized Brigade, 172nd Separate Rifle Battalion, the 120th Brigade of Territorial Defense Forces and other units failed to properly organize the defense of positions on the border of Kharkiv Oblast which led to a Russian breakthough.
Ukrainian forces made marginal advances in the Lyptsi direction amid continued Russian attacks. The Russian ministry of defense claimed that Russian forces repelled a Ukrainian counterattack near Hlyboke. Despite offensive actions by both Russia and Ukraine there was no change to the frontline in Vovchansk.

#### 28 May

Ukrainian forces recaptured a windbreak overlooking Lukyantsi, while reports of clashes with Russian forces continue in Lyptsi and Vovchansk. 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.

#### 9 June

A Russian milblogger claimed that the Russians captured the village of Ryzhivka in the Sumy region of Ukraine, located near the border, next to the Russian village of Tyotkino, although this has not been yet confirmed by Ukraine.

### Battle of Vovchansk

Vovchansk began to come under heavy artillery fire on the night of 10 May, which continued the following day. Russian troops advanced towards Vovchansk following the capture of Zelene and Lukiantsi on 12 May, and managed to capture the Vovchansky meat processing plant [uk] located north of the city. 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.
On 13 May, a shoe factory in the north of the city 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 the evening, according to Russian milbloggers.
On 20 May, Deputy Governor Roman Semenukha claimed that Ukraine still controls 60% of Vovchansk. House to house fighting in the city was also reported.
On 30 May, the Liut Brigade were reported to be conducting "door-to-door mop-up operations" in order to prevent Russian forces from gaining a foothold in other sections of the city.
Ukrainian soldiers said that the situation in Vovchansk is "hotter” than Bakhmut, but in this case they have the artillery shells needed to defend themselves.

## Analysis

The offensive comes at a time when the limited Ukrainian troops were already stretched across a 1,000+ km frontline, forcing partial troop pull backs from other areas such as Kupiansk. Observers assessed that Ukraine appeared to be ill-prepared for the offensive despite official denials. Noting a small buildup of Russian forces near Sumy Oblast, Kiev warned that the current operation may be a precursor to a larger summer offensive.
In a Reuters article, Pasi Paroinen, an analyst with the Black Bird Group, also assessed that the Kharkiv push aimed to deplete limited Ukrainian reserves before a main offensive. Notably, he said: "If Ukraine overcommits in Kharkiv and Sumy, they may preserve some territory there, perhaps prevent Kharkiv civilians from suffering artillery bombardments, perhaps even push back the enemy back to the border, but it may cost them the war, if the reserves are not available to respond to crises during the Russian summer offensive." In a lighter tone, David Axe, a military correspondent for Forbes, suggested that the offensive might be "an elaborate feint" whose main goal was to pull Ukrainian resources away from Chasiv Yar and the area of Avdiivka.
On May 28, the Institute for the Study of War reported attacks east of Chasiv Yar and Novopokrovske, as well as attacks near Novomykhailivka and Staromayorske, all of which are in Donetsk Oblast. All four attacks were considered by the ISW to have likely been intended to test Ukrainian response after the Kharkiv offensive; they failed to make any meaningful gain.

## Reactions

On 25 May 2024, the Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation into the Ukrainian army's 125th Brigade and its subordinate units for failing to "properly organize the defense of positions on the border of Kharkiv Oblast" due to a "careless attitude to military service".
On 30 May 2024, US President Joe Biden gave Ukraine permission to strike targets inside Russia near Kharkiv Oblast using American-supplied weapons. The same permission was given to Ukraine by Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
On 8 June 2024, Ukrainian president Zelenskyy said in his evening address that Russia had failed its Kharkiv offensive despite on-going fighting in the area.

## Military casualty claims

The Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff claimed on 19 May that Russia lost 1,572 soldiers killed and injured over the past week. They also claimed 263 units of military equipment were lost. They also claimed on 16 May that two combat formations deployed to the Kharkiv sector – the 138th Motor Rifle Brigade and 7th Separate Motor Rifle Regiment, both of 18th Motor Rifle Division – took 70 percent losses in less than two weeks and were rendered "combat ineffective". On 25 May, President Zelenskyy claimed an even higher figure for Russian losses, saying "before that, there were about 2,000 to 3,000 [Russian] casualties a week – I constantly receive analyses about the killing of Russian soldiers." On 23 May, the Ukrainians published photos of 28 Russian soldiers reportedly captured in the Kharkiv area, making up two-thirds their captured between 15 and 23 May.
As of 31 May, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Ukraine suffered 4,755 losses, including killed and wounded, in at least 9 brigades in the Kharkov direction since the start of the offensive. It also said that 19 tanks, 31 armored combat vehicles, 25 MLRS combat vehicles and 5 air defense vehicles from Ukraine were destroyed in the time period.

## Impact on civilians

As of 20 May 2024, more than 10,500 residents have been evacuated from areas of Kharkiv Oblast affected by the fighting, particularly in Kharkiv, Bohodukhiv and Chuhuiv raions. By 14 May, only about 400 civilians remained in Vovchansk, with "almost none" in the northern part of the city.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko claimed on 16 May that a resident of Vovchansk had been killed by Russian soldiers after refusing to obey their orders and attempting to escape on foot. He also said that other civilians were being forced into basements.
A video shot by aerial reconnaissance over Vovchansk showed the body of a dead civilian man in a wheelchair in the middle of a road near a local hospital that had been occupied by Russian forces. Law enforcement officials reported they opened a proceeding to investigate the circumstances of the death.

### Allegations of war crimes

Ukrainian police claimed on 17 May that up to 40 civilians, mostly elderly, were being interrogated by people who were calling themselves FSB employees, and alleged that they were being used as human shields by Russian forces, a claim which has not been independently verified.
Furthermore, a Ukrainian military spokesman claimed that Russian forces were looting houses of local residents on the outskirts of Vovchansk, with a video published on Telegram showing a Russian soldier taking a large covered object into a UAZ-3303 truck, purportedly looting.