Hrakove, a village in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv Oblast, has been heavily damaged in six months of occupation and fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces.

The extent of the damage can be seen in a video posted by Maria Avdeeva on Friday, September 9, two days after the village was recaptured by Ukrainian troops.

Avdeeva said Hrakove was largely depopulated, with only 50 of its original 750 residents remaining.

Russia took over the village just after the start of the war, occupying it on February 25, she said.

Hrakove is about 70 km from Izyum, on a strategic axis where Ukrainian forces made heavy gains in early September. Credit: Maria Avdeeva via Storyful

Video transcript

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