Russian occupation of Kharkiv Oblast

The city of Izium was captured by Russian forces on 1 April 2022, beginning the Russian military occupation of the city.

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.[18][19]

On 4 April 2022, The Guardian reported, based on eyewitness reports by residents and military officials, that intense fighting continued near Izium.[20] According to The Guardian, city inhabitants had survived in their basements for three weeks without electricity, heating or running water.[20] 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.[20] The Russian army was also accused of barring passage of humanitarian convoys while food and medicine available in the city was running out.[20]

On 10 April 2022, several US defense officials stated that Russian forces were massing in Izium in preparation for an offensive campaign between Izium and Dnipro.[21] Russian forces had been reportedly redeploying forces from the Kyiv axis and the Sumy axis to Izium from April 5.[22]

On 18 April 2022, Ukraine claimed the recapture of a "number of settlements" in or near the Izium area.[23] Russian forces in the city were beginning mass deportations of city residents towards the territory of the Russian Federation.[24]

On 21 April 2022, Russia appointed Vitaly Ganchev as head of the Kharkiv military-civilian administration.[25] On 19 August Andrey Alekseyenko was appointed first deputy head of the Kharkiv military-civilian administration and Prime Minister.[26]

Ukraine began a counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region in early September. As of 10 September 2022, Ukraine recaptured Izium, ending the military-civilian administration and Russian occupation of the city.[5]

The community of Velykyi Burluk was captured by Russian forces sometime in March 2022. The Russians began a military occupation, and later set up a military-civilian administration. On 8 April 2022, Russian forces routed an 13-mile long convoy of armored cars and trucks through Velikyi Burluk.[27][28] On 11 July 2022, the Russian-appointed military-civilian administration leader, Yevgeny Yunakov, was assassinated in a car bombing.[29]

Occupation representative Vitaly Ganchev stated the village was shelled on 9 September and advised citizens to evacuate.[30]

By 11 September, Ukrainian forces recaptured the village and ended its Russian occupation.[31]

The town of Balakliia was initially captured by pro-Russian forces on 3 March 2022, during the early stages of the Russian invasion.

On 6 September 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted a large counteroffensive in the Balakliia direction, liberating nearby settlements and suburbs including Verbivka, Nova Husarivka, and Bayrak.[32]

By 8 September 2022, Ukrainian forces fully recaptured the city. Video footage was later released of Ukrainian soldiers flying the Ukrainian flag atop the District Administration Building, with the Russian flag laid on the ground.[33][34]

By the evening of 8 September, Ukrainian forces had penetrated over 50 km into formerly occupied territory and were already on the outskirts of the road and rail hub of Kupiansk, potentially severing Russian a supply and communications line south to Izium.

On 10 September, Ukraine fully recaptured the city, ending the military occupation in the city.[35]

Following the end of the Russian occupation on September 10, multiple bodies were discovered in the town of Zaliznychne, reportedly killed by Russian troops during the early days of the war.[36]