# Russian occupation of Kharkiv Oblast

The Russian occupation of Kharkiv Oblast, officially the Kharkov Military–Civilian Administration, 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.

## History

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.
The city of Izium was captured by Russian forces on 1 April 2022, beginning the Russian military occupation of the city.
On 21 April 2022, Russia appointed Vitaly Ganchev as head of the Kharkiv Oblast military-civilian administration. On 19 August Andrey Alekseyenko was appointed first deputy head of the Kharkiv Oblast military-civilian administration and Prime Minister.
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. 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 region 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 By 11 September, Russia had withdrawn from most of the settlements it previously occupied in the oblast, including Izium, Kupiansk and Vovchansk. 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.

## 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 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; others might have died from shelling and a lack of access to healthcare.

## 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 3 March 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 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 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 16 March 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 6 September 2022. |
| Chuhuiv | 31,535 | Chuhuiv | Ukraine | 7 Mar 2022 | See Chuhuiv air base attack Captured by Russia 25 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 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 14 April 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 11 September 2022. Contested by Russia since around 30 November 2024. Claimed captured by Russian sources on 15 December 2024. 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. The village would change hands multiple times from then, Again 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 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 | 33 | Kupiansk | Ukraine | 31 Dec 2023 | |
| 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 26/27 March 2022. |
| Izbytske | 37 | Chuhuiv | Ukraine | 11 May 2024 | |
| Kalynove [uk] | - | Kupiansk | Ukraine | 31 Dec 2023 | |
| Kamianka [uk] | 961 | Kupiansk | Ukraine | 30 Dec 2023 | |
| 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 24 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 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. 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 | Ukraine | 25 Nov 2024 | Captured by Russia 27 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine by 10 September 2022. Contested by Russia between 14–24 November 2024. |
| Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi | 8,397 | Kupiansk | Ukraine | 26 Sep 2022 | Captured by Russia in 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 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. 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 5 April 2022. |
| Merefa | 21,421 | Kharkiv | Ukraine | 24 Feb 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 5 May 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 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 2 March 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 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. |
| 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 8 September 2022. |
| Shevchenkove | 6,724 | Kupiansk | Ukraine | 8 Sep 2022 | Captured by Russia 26 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 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 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. |
| Studenok | 1,440 | Izium | Ukraine | 18 Sep 2022 | Captured by Russia March 2022. Multiple reports said Russian forces withdrew 15 Sep 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. |
| 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-type settlement) | 261 | Kupiansk | Ukraine | 30 Nov 2023 | Captured by Russia in February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine on about 11 September 2022. Demined by 7 September 2023. |
| 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. Recaptured by Ukraine around 18 June 2024. Contested by Russia since around 12 January 2025. |
| Udy | 1,677 | Bohodukhiv | Ukraine | 11 Sep 2022 | Russia advanced in the settlement on August 28. Recaptured by Ukraine 11 September 2022. |
| Valky | 8,721 | Bohodukhiv | Ukraine | 24 Feb 2022 | |
| Velykyi Burluk | 3,656 | Kupiansk | Ukraine | 11 Sep 2022 | Captured by Russia 24 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 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. |
| Vovchansk | 17,747 | Chuhuiv | Contested | 12 May 2024 | Captured by Russia 24 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 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 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. |