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Kharkiv breakthrough: what 7 September 2022 showed
Summary
A look back at the day Ukrainian forces were reported to have pushed deep into Russian-held Kharkiv Oblast, as fighting also shifted in the south.
How far had Ukraine's counteroffensive reached by 7 September 2022? As reported at the time, Ukrainian forces broke through Russian defences in Kharkiv Oblast and advanced more than 30 kilometres into Russian-held territory, capturing many towns and cities, including Balakliia.
The advance in the north-east came amid a renewed counteroffensive in the region. It was reported as a significant penetration of Russian lines, measured in tens of kilometres rather than in individual villages.
Movement in the south
The Kharkiv push was not the only front where Ukrainian forces were reported to be gaining ground. On 4 September 2022, Ukrainian troops recaptured Vysokopillia in Kherson Oblast, a town that had been under Russian occupation since March. Ukrainian forces raised the national flag over the town's hospital.
Taken together, the reports from 4 and 7 September described Ukrainian operations in both the north-east and the south.
Pressure beyond the front
The war's wider effects were also visible in Europe. On 3 September 2022, an estimated 70,000 people marched in Prague, the Czech capital, demanding that the government do more to control soaring energy prices. Participants also voiced opposition to the country's involvement in the war. Political groups including the Communist Party organised the demonstration.
The events of those days brought together gains on the battlefield and public protest over energy costs, both tied to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
