# Russian occupation of Chernihiv Oblast

On 24 February 2022, the Russian military invaded Ukraine, crossing the Russia-Ukraine and Belarus–Ukraine borders at several points in Chernihiv Oblast. Russian troops unsuccessfully attempted to capture the capital city of the oblast, Chernihiv, as part of a strategy to reach the Ukraine's capital Kyiv from the east.
By 3 April, all Russian forces had reportedly left Chernihiv Oblast.

## Occupation
### Horodnia

Horodnia was occupied on 24 February 2022, the first day of the invasion.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russian forces left Horodnia on 1 April, and the situation in the town was "under control" by the next day.

### Russian withdrawal

In late March 2022, Russian officials said that their forces would "drastically" reduce military operations around Kyiv and Chernihiv, and announced on 29 March that they would withdraw from the areas. On 30 March, Russia began withdrawing troops from northern Ukraine, including Chernihiv Oblast. By 31 March, the Chernihiv Oblast governor Vyacheslav Chaus said that Russian forces had begun withdrawing from the region.
Ukrainian forces started recapturing many towns and settlements and by 3 April, Ukrainian officials and the Pentagon claimed Russian forces left Chernihiv Oblast for redeployment in Donbas and South Ukraine.

## Aftermath

After Russian forces withdrew, Ukrainian forces began demining operations in Chernihiv Oblast.
Russian forces still shell small towns and villages near the border with Russia.
On 15 November 2024, a likely Russian reconnaissance and sabotage unit conducted a cross-border incursion into the Chernihiv Oblast. According to Russian military bloggers, the Russian force entered and/or seized the villages of Hremiach, Kolos [uk], Novoselivka [uk] and Murav'yi [uk], though the Institute for the Study of War was unable to confirm that the Russian forces were maintaining positions in the area; Ukrainian officials claimed that Russian forces only briefly crossed into the region as part of an "information operation."

## Control of cities

| Name | Pop. | Raion | Held by | As of | More information |
| Bakhmach | 17,192 | Nizhyn | Ukraine | 4 Apr 2022 | |
| Baturyn | 2,458 | Nizhyn | Ukraine | 1 Jan 2024 | |
| Bobrovytsia | 10,742 | Nizhyn | Ukraine | 4 Apr 2022 | |
| Borzna | 9,632 | Nizhyn | Ukraine | 4 Apr 2022 | |
| Chernihiv | 285,234 | Chernihiv | Ukraine | 25 Mar 2022 | See Siege of Chernihiv, Chernihiv bombing, Chernihiv breadline attack |
| Horodnia | 11,710 | Chernihiv | Ukraine | 2 Apr 2022 | Captured by Russia 24 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 2 April 2022. |
| Ichnia | 10,585 | Pryluky | Ukraine | 1 Jan 2024 | |
| Koriukivka | 12,409 | Koriukivka | Ukraine | 4 Apr 2022 | Captured by Russia 25 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 4 April 2022. |
| Kozelets | 7,646 | Chernihiv | Ukraine | 29 Mar 2022 | Captured by Russia 3 March 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 31 March 2022. |
| Mena | 11,096 | Koriukivka | Ukraine | 4 Apr 2022 | |
| Mykhailo-Kotsiubynske | 2,851 | Chernihiv | Ukraine | 2 Apr 2022 | Captured by Russia 28 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 2 April 2022. |
| Nizhyn | 66,983 | Nizhyn | Ukraine | 1 Jan 2024 | |
| Nosivka | 13,120 | Nizhyn | Ukraine | 1 Jan 2024 | |
| Nova Basan | 2,929 | Nizhyn | Ukraine | 31 Mar 2022 | Captured by Russia 28 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 31 March 2022. |
| Novhorod-Siverskyi | 12,647 | Novhorod-Siverskyi | Ukraine | 11 Mar 2022 | |
| Novyi Bykiv | 2,024 | Nizhyn | Ukraine | 2 Apr 2022 | Captured by Russia 25 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 31 March 2022. |
| Oster | 5,655 | Chernihiv | Ukraine | 1 Jan 2024 | |
| Pryluky | 52,553 | Pryluky | Ukraine | 1 Jan 2024 | |
| Ripky | 6,807 | Chernihiv | Ukraine | 4 Apr 2022 | Captured by Russia 24 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 2 April 2022. |
| Sedniv | 1,063 | Chernihiv | Ukraine | 4 Apr 2022 | |
| Semenivka | 7,952 | Novhorod-Siverskyi | Ukraine | 4 Apr 2022 | Captured by Russia 24 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 4 April 2022. |
| Snovsk | 10,825 | Koriukivka | Ukraine | 4 Apr 2022 | |
| Sosnytsia | 6,708 | Koriukivka | Ukraine | 4 Apr 2022 | |