Nazar Gorbovskyi left Kharkiv in February 2022 after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He returned in 2023, but one year later, he is once again thinking about leaving and taking refuge in the west of the country. The 21-year-old was not in his apartment in the central Shevchenkivskyi district mid-afternoon on Wednesday, May 15, when a Russian missile struck his building. His apartment was not hit.

The country's second-largest city has been the target of almost daily Russian strikes for several months. Attacked by drones, missiles and guided glider bombs, an even greater threat was added to Kharkiv residents' worries on Friday, May 10, with the launch of a new Russian ground offensive.

"Some people have already left and others are thinking of doing so," said Gorbatovskyi, who is still not sure what he will do. It all depends on how far the Russians advance. "If they get close enough to hit us with their artillery systems, then I think people will leave."

Moscow's armed forces have captured several villages in the border areas, advancing up to 8 kilometers into Ukrainian territory. On Wednesday, when the Kyiv army announced that it was withdrawing from two zones in these territories, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his address to the nation that Kyiv's soldiers had "succeeded in partially stabilizing the situation." That same day, the president announced the postponement of all his foreign trips due to the situation in the region.

This offensive comes at an opportune moment for the Kremlin. Kyiv's army is suffering from a shortage of soldiers and ammunition due to delays in the delivery of Western military aid. The Russian initiative in this border area is seen by many experts as a way for Moscow to force Kyiv to send in reinforcements and thus clear other parts of the front. Ukrainian authorities confirmed on Wednesday that forces had been dispatched to Kharkiv to deal with this new push.

Underground schools under construction

The city's residents watch the news with concern but they haven't yet evacuated. On Wednesday, May 15, Kharkiv's streets, restaurants, bars and stores were still full. Public transport was running. On Monday, 620 schoolchildren from the first underground school built by the municipality even started the new school year. Given their proximity to the Russian border, the city's schools are obliged to have shelters up to standard to remain safe in the event of an attack. Several underground schools are currently under construction, but the majority of pupils are following classes online.

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