Military urbicide against Ukraine

Abstract

The article examines the phenomenon of "urbicide" or the targeted destruction of cities as an actual problem in modern conflict zones, focusing on its appearance in contemporary conflicts, in particular in Kharkiv, Ukraine, due to Russia's military aggression. The study emphasizes the devastating impact of urbicide on the civilian population, the urban landscape, the city's social, transport and critical infrastructure, and its cultural heritage. The study highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach, especially through the lens of human geography, to understand the causes and consequences of urbicide and to identify ways to restore affected cities.

The authors emphasize that, regardless of the territorial localization of this phenomenon, its consequences have a long-term perspective and impact on the entire world community. It requires international intervention and support, humanitarian aid and strategies to restore affected cities and prevent future crises, emphasizing global security and economic consequences of urbicide.

The article studies and analyzes the spatial aspects and consequences of urbicide, presents a comprehensive analysis of its stages and forms, investigates geographical features and determines the socio-economic consequences in the territory of the city of Kharkiv. The authors note that urbicide was used by the Russian military as a strategic and manipulative tool. The study examines three main scenarios of urbicide observed in Ukraine, including Donetsk, Mariupol and Kharkiv, where Russian tactics ranged from selective terror to large-scale extermination. The study identifies how urbicide goes beyond physical destruction to affect the mental well-being of the population, and demonstrates how regional factors, such as proximity to an active frontline, increase vulnerability to urbicide.

The authors emphasize that urbicide remains a tool of warfare with far-reaching socio-economic consequences, which requires the response of the world community to support the post-war reconstruction of cities and prevent further international instability.