Kharkov (Uke: Kharkiv) is Ukraine-occupied enemy territory for them.
Its >80% Russian speaking. The Western Ukrainians don’t like the locals, and you can imagine, the feeling among the locals is mutual. Most Pro-Ukraine civilians left months ago, which is why the Ukraine Army has no compunction about keeping its munitions hidden in populated civilian areas.
Russian speakers in Kharkov are pro-Ukrainian. Zelensky is a Russian speaker. Many thousands of Russian speakers from the Donbas are fighting on the Ukrainian side.
Before the war. Kharkiv’s many universities and colleges, etc. had 300,000 national and international students. Although there may have been a number of Russian connected residents, a university town generally has a higher population of intellectuals and other independent types of people. I doubt the majority of the population had much desire to be part of Russia’s type of government, no matter what language they spoke. I wonder what percentage voted for Zalensky in 2019?
Before the war. Kharkiv’s many universities and colleges, etc. had 300,000 national and international students. Although there may have been a number of Russian connected residents, a university town generally has a higher population of intellectuals and other independent types of people. I doubt the majority of the population had much desire to be part of Russia’s type of government, no matter what language they spoke. I wonder what percentage voted for Zalensky in 2019?