Key Facts
- Duration (initial phase)
- February–May 2022
- Distance from Russian border
- 30 km (19 mi)
- City population rank in Ukraine
- 2nd largest city
- Cluster munition allegation
- Amnesty International report, 12 June 2022
- Ukrainian counteroffensive
- Launched September 2022 in Kharkiv Oblast
Strategic Narrative Overview
Russian forces attempted to encircle Kharkiv but faced sustained Ukrainian resistance throughout March and April 2022. By 13 May, Ukrainian units had pushed Russian troops back toward the border, prompting the Institute for the Study of War to assess that Ukraine had likely won the battle. Despite this, Russian artillery and rocket bombardment of the city continued into late May and June, with Amnesty International documenting widespread use of cluster munitions against civilian areas.
01 / The Origins
Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city and a predominantly Russian-speaking urban centre, sits only 30 kilometres from the Russian border, making it an immediate target when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As part of the broader eastern Ukraine offensive, Russian forces moved rapidly toward Kharkiv with the apparent aim of encircling and capturing the city, exploiting its proximity to Russian territory and its symbolic significance.
03 / The Outcome
The initial battle phase concluded in Ukrainian favor by mid-May 2022, with Russian encirclement attempts repelled. Shelling persisted, but in September 2022 the Ukrainian military launched a major counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast, recapturing significant territory and pushing Russian forces further from the city, substantially reducing the threat to Kharkiv and restoring Ukrainian control over much of the surrounding region.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.