Much ado about Kharkiv: Why the propaganda-fueled Russian offensive failed

Still, in the area east of Kharkiv city, Russian forces made significant gains in 2022 by seizing control of Vovchansk before advancing south toward Izium, ultimately capturing the key transport hub after intense battles. From there, Russian forces posed a serious threat from the north to Sloviansk and the rest of the eastern Donetsk region. In response, Ukraine swiftly launched its first sizable counteroffensive north of Kharkiv, aiming to push Russian forces back to the border.

At that time, the complete expulsion of the enemy from the region proved elusive. Due to Russian counterattacks, the front once again neared Kharkiv — threatening to bring the city back within range of artillery fire, at the very least. The situation only shifted decisively in Kyiv’s favor following a large-scale Ukrainian counteroffensive in autumn 2022. Subsequently, Russian forces withdrew from much of the region — even those areas not directly threatened by the Ukrainian operation — abandoning Vovchansk and other settlements close to the border.

Russia’s withdrawal from the Kharkiv region likely made strategic sense, as Ukrainian forces refrained from pursuing the exhausted Russian troops across the border. However, continuous shelling of the city of Belgorod and other border areas, along with constant raids by AFU units presenting themselves as Russian armed opposition (RVC and FRL), debunked Russian authorities' claims that the “special military operation” (SMO) was proceeding as planned.