Battle of Kharkiv (2022)

For other battles in Kharkiv, see Battle of Kharkiv.

Battle of Kharkiv (2022)
Part of the eastern Ukraine campaign of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A street in downtown Kharkiv after being shelled
Date24 February – 13 May 2022
(2 months, 2 weeks and 5 days)[1]
Location
Kharkiv, Ukraine
Result Ukrainian victory[2]
Belligerents
 Russia  Ukraine
Units involved

 Russian Ground Forces

PMC Redut[11][12]

 Armed Forces of Ukraine

Strength
1st GTA: 35,000–50,000 troops,
500–600 tanks,
600–800 IFVs
300–400 artillery pieces[29]
20th CAA: 20,000 troops,
560 BMP fighting vehicles,
300 T-72 tanks[6]
80th Brigade: 2,000 troops[30]
200th Brigade: 1,400–1,600 troops
[31]		 Unknown
Casualties and losses
Ukrainian claim:
4,370–4,700+ killed[6][32][33][34][7][35][38]
Equipment losses: 308+ vehicles destroyed, including 131+ tanks (1st GTA)[4]		 Russian claim:
276+ killed,
471 captured[39][40][41][42][43][44]
  • Per Ukraine:
  • 606 civilians killed[45]
  • 600,000+ evacuated[46]

The battle of Kharkiv was a military engagement that took place from February to May 2022 in and around the city of Kharkiv in Ukraine, as part of the eastern Ukraine offensive during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[47][48] Kharkiv, located just 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of the Russia–Ukraine border and a predominately Russian-speaking city, is the second-largest city in Ukraine and was considered a major target for the Russian military early in the invasion.[49][50]

By 13 May, Ukrainian forces pushed Russian units attempting to encircle the city back towards the Russian border.[2] Additionally, it was reported that Russia had withdrawn units from the area.[51] The Institute for the Study of War opined that Ukraine had "likely won the battle of Kharkiv".[52] However, bombardment continued, and by 20 May, Russian forces were again shelling Kharkiv city.[53]

On 12 June, Amnesty International claimed it found the evidence of widespread use of widely-banned cluster munitions by Russia, such as 9N210/9N235 cluster bombs, and "scatterable" munitions that eject small mines that explode later in timed intervals.[54] In September, the Ukrainian military launched a major counteroffensive into territories that were still under Russian control in Kharkiv Oblast.[55] As a result, Russian forces located close to the city were pushed back, resulting in significantly reduced pressure on Kharkiv.[56]

  1. ^ Harding, Luke (27 February 2022). "Kharkiv governor claims Russian troops repelled from city; Kharkiv governor Oleh Synyehubov says Ukrainian soldiers are now 'cleaning up' the eastern city". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b Stepanenko, Kateryna (13 May 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War.
  3. ^ "Russia-Ukraine Warning Update: Initial Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment". Institute for the Study of War. 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference roblin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Russia-Ukraine Warning Update: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 26". Critical Threats. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Axe, David. "The Ukrainian Army Reportedly Destroyed Another Russian Division". Forbes.
  7. ^ a b Quick update it seem the Unit that was actually wiped out was the 488th Motor Rifle Regiment a part of the 144th which is still around 1,600 Troops.
  8. ^ "Russia's offensive in Donbas bogs down". 7 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Ukraine claims it has killed another Russian general during fighting in Kharkiv". The Independent. 8 March 2022.
  10. ^ @pmakela1 (5 July 2022). "Twitter post" (Tweet) – via Twitter. [dead link‍]
  11. ^ "A mercenaries' war How Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to a 'secret mobilization' that allowed oligarch Evgeny Prigozhin to win back Putin's favor". Meduza. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Convicts in arms - Russian convicts are now used to fuel the war in Ukraine: the military, the PMCs, and the Kremlin all want to deploy them to the frontlines as cannon fodder". Novaya Gazeta Europe. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  13. ^ "President: Heroism and grit of our warriors leave no doubt that Ukraine will win". ukrinform.net. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  14. ^ Axe, David (1 February 2022). "One Of Ukraine's Best Brigades Defends One Of Its Most Vulnerable Cities". Forbes. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Shells rain down on Kharkiv as Ukraine's army stands firm". BBC News. 17 March 2022. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  16. ^ Axe, David (5 May 2022). "The Ukrainian Army Is On The Attack. This Is How The War With Russia Could End". Forbes. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "Атака Росії на Харків: загинуло 209 осіб, серед яких 133 цивільних". Slovo i Dilo (in Ukrainian). 7 March 2022. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Kharkiv territorial defense fighters tell the story of the liberation of Kharkiv Oblast". 18 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Exclusive: Kharkiv territorial defense fighters tell the story of the liberation of Kharkiv Oblast".
  20. ^ "Ukraine GoPro | International Legion in Kharkiv". YouTube. 26 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Australian man dubbed the 'Kharkiv Ninja' killed while fighting Russian forces in Ukraine | 7NEWS". YouTube.
  22. ^ "ЧАС ПОВЕРТАТИ СВОЄ". storm.mvs.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Псковская спецура сгорела заживо: нацгвардеец рассказал о жестких боях в Харькове". WAR OBOZREVATEL (in Russian). 8 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Четверо військових Нацгвардії загинули внаслідок бомбардування Харкова". Public. 5 March 2022.
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference :20 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ "Meet the Chechens fighting Russia in Ukraine". Kyivindependent. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  27. ^ Shulzhenko, Daria (2 May 2022). "Families mourn fallen defenders of Ukraine". Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  28. ^ ""В нашем подразделении есть люди из России, которые перешли границу и воюют на стороне Украины", — офицер ГУР". Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  29. ^ "These Are The Elite Russian Tank Units Taking Most Of The Casualties In Ukraine Right Now". SOFREP. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  30. ^ "The Russian Federation dispatches to Ukraine the 80th Separate Arctic Motor Rifle Brigade from the Finnish border despite the country's accession to NATO".
  31. ^ "'Wiped out': War in Ukraine has decimated a once feared Russian brigade". Washington Post. 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Hundreds of Arctic troops killed, says Ukrainian adviser". The Independent Barents Observer. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  33. ^ "Two BTGs and commander of 200th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade destroyed near Kharkiv – General Staff". ukrinform.net. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  34. ^ "Харків повністю контролюється ЗСУ". ukrinform.ua (in Ukrainian). 8 March 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  35. ^ "Intelligence confirms large-scale losses of Russia's 1st Tank Army in Ukraine". ukrinform.net. 16 May 2022.
  36. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 17". Critical Threats. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  37. ^ Russian Order of Battle in Ukraine
  38. ^ The 252nd Motor Rifle Regiment had an established strength of 900–2,000 personnel, of whom 30% were reportedly killed.[36][37]
  39. ^ "More than 70 Ukrainian soldiers killed near Kharkiv". the Guardian. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  40. ^ "Атака Росії на Харків: загинуло 209 осіб, серед яких 133 цивільних". Слово і Діло (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  41. ^ "Russia says killed up to 30 'Polish mercenaries' in Ukraine - Times of India". The Times of India. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  42. ^ "Russian Army Kills More than 100 Mercenaries in Kharkiv". 2 April 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  43. ^ "Center for Countering Misinformation: Russian reports about surrendered 302nd anti-aircraft regiment in Kharkiv region fake". Interfax-Ukraine. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  44. ^ Brown (27 February 2022). "Defense Ministry: The 302nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of The Armed Forces of Ukraine, Armed With BukM-1 Systems, Voluntarily Laid Down Arms". ePrimefeed. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  45. ^ "З початку повномасштабної війни війська рф убили понад 600 жителів Харківщини". ukrinform.ua. 28 April 2022.
  46. ^ Cite error: The named reference evacuation was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  47. ^ "Russian tanks are burning near Kharkiv (video)". segodnya.ua (in Ukrainian). 11 July 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  48. ^ "Ukraine's War with Russia: The Situation in Kharkiv". Коментарі Україна (in Ukrainian). 24 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  49. ^ Higgins, Andrew (24 February 2022). "Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is a major target of Russia. Here's why". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  50. ^ "Why Kharkiv, a city known for its poets, has become a key battleground in Ukraine". The Washington Post. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  51. ^ Norman, Greg (12 May 2022). "Russia withdrawing troops after 'heavy losses', proving 'inability to capture key Ukrainian cities,' UK says". Fox News. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  52. ^ Stepanenko, Kateryna; Kagan, Frederick W. (13 May 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 13". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  53. ^ Cite error: The named reference pravda_ua_20220520 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  54. ^ "Ukraine war: Evidence shows widespread use of cluster munitions in Kharkiv". BBC News. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  55. ^ Murphy, Matt (10 September 2022), Kharkiv offensive: Russia surprised as Ukraine takes several towns - UK, BBC News
  56. ^ Hendrix, Steve; Korolchuk, Serhii; Dixon, Robyn (11 September 2022). "Amid Ukraine's startling gains, liberated villages describe Russian troops dropping rifles and fleeing". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 September 2022.