Russia’s withdrawal from northern Ukraine has turned the outskirts of Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, into the conflict’s northernmost front. Kharkiv is not part of the Donbas, a pro-Russian separatist region where the Kremlin is focusing its military efforts. However, there have been relentless strikes and fighting around this city of 1.5 million – most of whom are Russian speakers – since day one of the invasion. Ukrainians said they had pushed the Russians back 40 kilometers (24.9 miles) east of the city, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).