February 24 – May 14, 2022 · Northeastern Ukraine Theater
February 24 – May 14, 2022
Ukraine's second city — just 40 km from the Russian border — faced intense fighting in the opening weeks of the invasion. Russian forces entered Kharkiv's outskirts and shelled the city center extensively, destroying civilian infrastructure, the central market, and government buildings. However, Ukrainian forces prevented Russian troops from taking the city itself. Sustained artillery bombardment of residential areas produced large civilian casualties. By mid-May, Ukrainian counterattacks had pushed Russian forces back toward the border, out of artillery range of the city.
Commanders