The city of Volchansk: where it is located and why it is important for Russia

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have practically lost the strategically important city of Volchansk in the Kharkiv region. 90% of its territories have already passed under the control of the armed forces of the Russian Federation (RF Armed Forces), the rest of it is located in the so-called gray zone. Read more about the battles for the city, as well as its significance for Russia, in the Izvestia article.

The battles for Volchansk: the latest news

The Russian Armed Forces continue their active offensive in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. According to the latest data, about 90% of the territories of Volchansk have passed under the control of Russia, 10% of the city remain a gray zone.

The Russian military is currently mopping up the city and destroying Ukrainian troops in its vicinity. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have to urgently relocate and strengthen the defensive line in the Vilcha — Volchansk Farms area. Military expert Andrei Marochko told RIA Novosti about this on November 27.

Last week, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, reported to President Vladimir Putin that the fighters of the Center group had liberated more than 80% of the territory of Volchansk and were successfully advancing in the southeastern part of the city.

Earlier it was also reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are urgently transferring reinforcements to the Kharkov direction to hold positions in Volchansk. On November 26, it became known that the 57th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was suffering huge losses and was almost completely destroyed. The military is retreating from Volchansk and surrendering, some are trying to escape by changing into civilian clothes.

For the failed leadership of the troops in the Kharkiv region, the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dismissed Yevgeny Solodaev, commander of the 57th separate motorized infantry brigade, and the cases were transferred to the new brigade commander Vitaly Popovich.

The history of the battles for Volchansk

At the very beginning of the special operation in Ukraine, in February 2022, Volchansk was occupied by the Russian Armed Forces, but in September of the same year it was abandoned. Shebekino and other settlements of the Belgorod region were shelled from the vicinity of the city.

Russian troops again approached Volchansk and occupied part of the urban area in May 2024. As a result of the fighting, the city was almost completely destroyed, and forced evacuation was announced.

The assault on Volchansk began on May 13, 2025.

The importance of Volchansk for the Russian Armed Forces

Many experts spoke about the importance of Volchansk for the Russian Armed Forces. This is the nearest city to the Russian border, and the liberation of the city will allow the Russian military to continue their journey south, including to Kharkiv.

In addition, the capture of Volchansk is of strategic importance for strengthening the northern direction and protecting Russia's border territories. The retention of the city will allow the Russian Armed Forces to strengthen their defenses and reduce the intensity of Ukrainian shelling.

What is known about Volchansk

Volchansk is located in the north-east of the Kharkiv region. The distance between it and Kharkov along the highway is 74 km (60 km as the crow flies), to the border with Russia — about 5 km.

According to the 2001 census, more than 20.5 thousand people lived in the city, in January 2022, according to Ukrainian statistics, about 17.5 thousand. In 2024, the Ukrainian media reported that only 30-40 people remained in the city, who refused to evacuate.

The date of the founding of the settlement on the site of modern Volchansk is considered to be 1674, when Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, in order to repel the raids of the Crimean Tatars on the right bank of the Volchye Waters (the first name of the Volchye River), ordered the establishment of a watchdog settlement. Volchansk received the status of a city in 1780.

Until the middle of the 20th century, the city developed as an agricultural and craft center. In 1896, a railway connection was opened to Belgorod, and five years later to Kupyansk. In the post-war years, the city developed as a center of the food and light industry, with several large enterprises operating there, including an aggregate and dairy plant, a meat processing plant, and others.