Balakliia or Balakliya (Ukrainian: Балаклія, IPA: [bɐlɐˈkl⁽ʲ⁾ijɐ] ; Russian: Балаклея, romanized: Balakleya) is a city in the Izium Raion, Kharkiv Oblast, eastern Ukraine, on the northeast side of the Siverskyi Donets river close to where it is joined by the Balakliika river, which runs through the town. It is an important railroad junction in the oblast. Balakliia hosts the administration of Balakliia urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. Population: 26,334 (2022 estimate).
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In this Dossier
Balakliia in the context of 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive
On 6 September 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a major counteroffensive against the Russian military during the Russo-Ukrainian war. As Ukraine announced the start of the Kherson counteroffensive in southern Ukraine in late August, Ukrainian forces also began a second counteroffensive in early September in Kharkiv Oblast, in eastern Ukraine.
As the Ukrainian military broke through Russian defensive lines, it recaptured multiple cities in a matter of days. On 7 September, the second day of the counteroffensive, the Ukrainian military advanced over 20 kilometres (12 mi) into Russian-held territory. The next day, Ukraine recaptured Balakliia and Shevchenkove as Russian forces withdrew and fled. On the 9th, Russia began announcing for evacuations in nearby areas as the Ukrainian military continued its advance. The next day, Ukraine retook the key cities of Izium and Kupiansk, securing access to the Oskil River. By the 11th, Ukraine successfully advanced up to 70 kilometres (43 mi) from the pre-counteroffensive front line. In turn, Russia's defence ministry announced the withdrawal of all forces west of the Oskil.
Balakliia in the context of Eastern Ukraine offensive
Ukraine's easternmost regions, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv, have been the site of an ongoing theatre of operation since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The battle of Donbas was a major offensive in the eastern theatre that took place in mid-2022. By the culmination of the offensive in July 2022, Russian forces and their separatist allies had captured the cities of Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Rubizhne and Izium. However, in early September, Ukraine launched a major counteroffensive in the east, which recaptured the cities of Izium, Balakliia, Kupiansk, Sviatohirsk and the strategic city of Lyman. The counteroffensive stalled east of the Oskil river, and a campaign in eastern Kharkiv Oblast and western Luhansk Oblast has continued since, though Donetsk Oblast has remained the most active area of the frontline.
Balakliia in the context of Balakliia urban hromada
Balakliia urban hromada (Ukrainian: Балаклійська міська територіальна громада) is a hromada of Ukraine, located in Izium Raion, Kharkiv Oblast. Its administrative center is the city Balakliia. The area of the hromada is 1,299.5 square kilometres (501.7 mi), and its population is 46,142 (2020).
It was formed on 12 June 2020 via the merger of several local councils in Balakliia Raion and Chuhuiv Raion in Kharkiv Oblast. The first elections took place on 25 October 2020.