Kharkiv has been under constant attack from the first day of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In total, the region has heard the sound of a siren warning of a missile threat 2124 times during the war. Find out how the eastern capital of Ukraine lives in the conditions of war

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The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has been in the crosshairs of the russian army since the beginning of the full-scale war. The city has been and remains one of the main targets of the occupiers, just like the capital Kyiv. We will tell you how Kharkiv lives under russian aggression and what kind of atmosphere prevails in the city.

The russian authorities had plans for Kharkiv back in 2014, when the aggressor country managed to occupy part of the Ukrainian Donbas. However, russia's plans did not come true 9 years ago. In 2022, when the russian army launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the city of Kharkiv became one of the main targets of the enemy. 

The fighting for the first capital of Ukraine lasted for more than six months. But the Ukrainian military managed to repel the russian attack and regain control of almost the entire Kharkiv region. 

How is Kharkiv affected by russian attacks?

After the enemy's plans to occupy the city failed, they continued their ruthless bombardment of Kharkiv's civilian population. According to estimates, during the full-scale war, 2124 alerts were declared in the Kharkiv region, with a total duration of more than 72 hours. Also, according to media reports, 485 explosions were recorded in the region during the war.

According to Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov, many local residents died during the war, but he did not give a specific number. In addition, he said that as of February 2023, 150,000 people were left homeless in the city. 

Northern Saltovka, a suburb of Kharkiv, is one of the largest neighborhoods in the city, where more than 300,000 people lived before russia's full-scale invasion. However, after the start of the full-scale russian aggression, the city resembles a burnt-out coal.

More than four thousand buildings in Kharkiv were damaged by russian shelling, and almost a third of these buildings were hit directly.

It is worth noting that other areas of the city are also subject to bloody rocket attacks by the russian army.

"There was a time when Kharkiv residents had no electricity for almost two days. Now there are practically no such cases, the city is now powered. There is water supply and heat supply. This is unprecedented for Ukraine, when we restarted the heating system for the eighth time", - the mayor said about the consequences of the shelling of the city.

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How is Kharkiv living now and how many people have returned home?

As of the beginning of 2023, Kharkiv had about 1 million 100 thousand residents, although after the first month of the full-scale war, there were 200-300 thousand people there.

Despite the fact that the occupiers failed to capture the city, Kharkiv still suffers from enemy attacks. And the problem with the shelling is that the enemy launches missiles from its territory, namely from Belgorod Oblast, which borders Kharkiv Oblast. The time it takes for the missiles to reach the Ukrainian city is so short that it is very difficult to intercept the enemy shells.

Where do Kharkiv residents hide from shelling?

In Kharkiv, as in many cities of Ukraine, there are special bomb shelters located in houses, factories and the subway.

You can hide in these "bomb shelters" for more than one day. They are prepared and designed to accommodate numerous people and are equipped with medicines, food, water, bathrooms, communication equipment, and tools for clearing debris.

It is worth noting that the Kharkiv subway can accommodate about 170,000 people in the event of an emergency.

As for the life of Kharkiv residents during the war, it continues no matter what. However, some restrictions that were imposed due to martial law continue to be in effect in the city. The main restriction is the curfew, which is in effect in Kharkiv from 23:00 to 05:00 every day.

As of May 1, there were about 12 hypermarkets, 183 supermarkets and 35 shopping centers in Kharkiv. As you can see, Kharkiv residents are trying to enjoy life despite russia's attempts to destroy the city.

During the war, Kharkiv residents showed impressive solidarity and unity. Civic initiatives, volunteer groups and charitable foundations were created to help the victims and refugees. People opened their homes to evacuated families and provided them with shelter. These acts of civic consciousness and kindness played an important role in supporting residents in need.

We remind you! Rocket attacks on Kyiv and the region have been happening almost every day lately. Read here to find out how Kyiv residents live during enemy attacks.

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