Urbicide in Eastern Ukraine (Case Study of the City of Kharkiv, Ukraine)

Contemporary cities play pivotal roles in economic, geopolitical, scientific, and technological realms, driving innovation, fostering productivity, and shaping global dynamics. In addition, cities are centers of education, culture, art, and technological progress, influence public opinion, and shape worldviews. They attract talent, investment, and business activity, facilitating the exchange of goods, services, and ideas on a global scale. Geopolitically, cities often serve as nodes of power and influence, hosting key institutions, government agencies, and diplomatic missions. They can shape regional and global dynamics due to their strategic location, economic potential, and cultural significance. However, they are also vulnerable targets for military aggression and terrorism. The shelling of the civilian population, the systematic destruction of residential buildings and historical and cultural monuments, and the destruction of social and critical infrastructure—this is how russia’s urbicide and genocide against the civilian population and cities of Ukraine are manifested. Kharkiv, as a major economic, cultural, and educational hub, has endured relentless shelling due to its proximity to the russian border. This article examines the directed urbicide of the Russian army against Ukrainian cities, focusing on Kharkiv as a case study. The authors delineated the stages and forms of urbicide in Kharkiv, analyzed factors influencing the intensity of shelling, and investigated the temporal and spatial features of urbicide. The most affected areas of the city have been identified, and the direct and lasting impacts of urbicide on Kharkiv have been explored.