Kharkiv Region Under Fire: Battles Continue as Russian Forces Press Attacks
Kharkiv, Ukraine – Intense fighting continues in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, as Russian forces maintain their offensive operations. Recent reports indicate ongoing clashes in multiple areas, alongside a concerning incident of a scheme to avoid military conscription and the aftermath of Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure.
Ongoing Battles and Russian Offensive Efforts
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that over the past 24 hours, 16 battles occurred in the Kharkiv region. Russian forces attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses 12 times in the Yuzhno-Slobozhansky direction, specifically near Veterinary, Zeleny, Staritsa, Volchansk, Vilcha, Okhrimovka, Zarubinka and Chugunovka. In the Kupyansk direction, four attacks were launched in the areas of Kondrashovka, Petropavlivka, Kurilovka, and Novoosinovo.
237 military clashes were recorded across Ukraine in the last 24 hours, including one missile strike, 61 air strikes, 196 guided bombs, 4,748 kamikaze drones, and 2,453 artillery shellings of populated areas and Ukrainian troop positions, with 76 of those shellings coming from multiple launch rocket systems.
Fighting is particularly concentrated in the Lyptsi and Vovchansk directions, with Russian forces deploying infantry and heavy equipment. Combat is ongoing in three locations within Vovchansk as of February 20, 2026.
Civilian Impact and Infrastructure Damage
A Russian missile strike hit the Slobodsky district of Kharkiv on the morning of February 20, 2026, damaging administrative buildings, vehicles, and breaking windows in residential buildings. Preliminary reports indicate the use of an Iskander-M missile.
Elsewhere in the region, a 68-year-aged woman was injured by a drone strike near the village of Bezruki, sustaining injuries to her hip. A fire at a UAV enterprise in the Malinovskaya community resulted in one fatality and two injuries. Approximately 3,000 square meters of warehouse space were destroyed.
A fire in the village of Dvurechny Kut, caused by Russian shelling, resulted in the death of approximately 100 pigs and injuries to a local man born in 1967.
Scheme to Evade Military Service Uncovered
Ukrainian security services have uncovered a scheme in Kharkiv involving fictitious teachers being registered to allow individuals to avoid military conscription. Officials from a private security training enterprise allegedly registered men as teachers for a fee, providing them with deferments. The scheme involved an initial payment of $3,000, followed by $500 every six months for continued “cooperation.” Three individuals have been charged in connection with the scheme.
Regional Demographic Trends
Data indicates that marriages in Ukraine increased by 10% in 2025, while divorces decreased by 12%, resulting in a ratio of seven divorces for every ten marriages. The Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv regions saw increases in marriages. In the Kharkiv region, 8,358 marriages were registered in 2025.
The situation in the Kharkiv region remains volatile, with Ukrainian forces continuing to defend against Russian attacks and address the challenges posed by ongoing conflict and related criminal activity.