A Russian military occupation of Chernihiv Oblast began on 24 February 2022 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Steadily, Russian troops started capturing large parts of the Chernihiv Oblast to try to take the capital city of Ukraine, Kyiv. The capital city of the oblast, Chernihiv, was never captured. By 3 April, Russian forces left the oblast, ending the occupation.
On 25 February 2022, Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian forces were laying siege to the city.[1] The following day, Ukrainian forces in the city claimed they had repelled a Russian attempt to enter the city, amid ongoing street fighting.[2]
On 1 March, governor of Chernihiv Oblast, Vyacheslav Chaus claimed that every access point to the city was heavily mined.[3]
On 10 March, Mayor Vladyslav Atroshenko said that Russian forces had completed the encirclement of Chernihiv, adding that the city was completely isolated and critical infrastructure for its 300,000 residents was rapidly failing as it came under repeated bombardment.[4][failed verification] A Russian airstrike also damaged the Chernihiv Arena.[5]
On 25 March, Ukrainian authorities said that Russian forces had cut off Chernihiv after destroying a road bridge across the Desna River in the south, while attempts to fully encircle the city remained unsuccessful.[6][failed verification]
On 31 March, the Ukrainian Army recaptured a main road connecting Kyiv and Chernihiv, ending the siege, according to David Axe, citing Twitter users.[7] Chaus and the city's deputy mayor reported that 31 March marked the first quiet night since the war began.[8]
According to Ukrainian officials, Russian forces left Horodnia on 1 April, and the situation in the town was "under control" by the next day.[9]
Russian withdrawal
In late March 2022, Russian officials said that their forces would "drastically" reduce military operations around Kyiv and Chernihiv,[8] and announced on 29 March that they would withdraw from the areas.[10] On 30 March, Russia began withdrawing troops from northern Ukraine, including Chernihiv Oblast.[citation needed] By 31 March, the Chernihiv Oblast governor Vyacheslav Chaus said that Russian forces had begun withdrawing from the region.[8][10]
Ukrainian forces started recapturing many towns and settlements and by 3 April, Ukrainian officials and the Pentagon claimed Russian forces left Chernihiv Oblast for redeployment in Donbas and South Ukraine.[citation needed]
After Russian forces withdrew, Ukrainian forces began demining operations in Chernihiv Oblast.[11]
Russian forces still shell small towns and villages near the border with Russia.[12]
On 15 November 2024, a likely Russian reconnaissance and sabotage unit conducted a cross-border incursion into the Chernihiv Oblast. According to Russian military bloggers, the Russian force entered and/or seized the villages of Hremiach, Kolos [uk], Novoselivka [uk] and Murav'yi [uk], though the Institute for the Study of War was unable to confirm that the Russian forces were maintaining positions in the area; Ukrainian officials claimed that Russian forces only briefly crossed into the region as part of an "information operation."[13]
^Mappes, Grace; Hird, Karolina; Evans, Angelica; Runkel, William; Gasparyan, Davit; Gibson, Olivia; Barros, George; Trotter, Nate (15 November 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 15, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
