Authors

Alina Legeyda¹; Dmytro Legeyda¹;  ¹ University of Newcastle, UK

Discussion

This study centers around the phenomenon Kharkiv and its inhabitants starting with 24 February 2022 up to present during the war initiated by Russia against Ukraine. During the full-scale invasion of Ukraine Kharkiv remains unoccupied, situated within 40 km from the Russian border, which makes it a frontline city from the first war hours. This makes Kharkiv vulnerable to artillery shelling, air strikes and C300 missiles. Kharkiv citizen syndrome demonstrates prototypical characteristics of Kharkiv residents differenciating them from other Ukrainian residents under military conditions.

From the moment Kharkiv acquired the status of a frontline city its residents could be divided into two classes: those who stayed in the city in spite of everything and those who left the city, fleeing from such neighbourhood with the aggressor.
For the residents who remained in the city the information they exchanged in Telegram channels was a way of survival, for the residents who left the city the information in Telegram channels became an invisible bridge linking them to their hometown. Residents who remained in the city formed a strong community of Kharkivites that continues to use Russian predominantly for communication in Telegram channel communication. Still, values of inhabitants of Kharkiv city remain utterly Ukrainian.
The period from February 24, 2022 till present can be divided into three stages in relation to Kharkiv citizens behaviour: the period of being in Kharkiv in the initial days of the war, the period of forced relocation/emigration and acquisition of refugee status, the period of mass return of Kharkiv citizens back home (spring-summer 2023). This study focused on people who decide to return to Kharkiv despite the ongoing war and permanent shelling.