HUMAN-GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE KHARKIV REGION

Abstract

The study of economic transformations caused by the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine is crucial for understanding not only the extent of destruction but also the patterns of adaptation and recovery. Until 2022, Kharkiv Region held a key position in Ukraine's economy, serving as an important growth hub that combined a powerful industrial potential with the dynamic development of the tertiary sector and a strong scientific and educational complex. The study of economic transformations in Kharkiv Region, which has become a frontline region, is of particular relevance given all the new conditions and factors that have emerged.The purpose of this article is to identify the features of economic transformations in Kharkiv Region during the years of the full-scale war, based on the principles of human geography. The article describes the structure of Kharkiv Region's economy and its place in the national context before the full-scale war; outlines the changes in the economy after 2022, and examines the dynamics of business relocation, the transformation of key economic sectors, and their resilience. It also provides a comparative analysis of tax revenues for 2023–2025 to determine the region's position nationally and identify shifts in its economic structure. The article formulates key directions and recommendations for sustainable recovery and analyzes the main provisions and priorities of the regional program for the reconstruction and development of Kharkiv Region. The economy of Kharkiv Region has undergone a profound transformation. Thanks to the resilience of key sectors, particularly the IT and defense industries, as well as fiscal viability confirmed by tax revenue indicators, Kharkiv Region has turned into a "pole of resilience". At the same time, spatial polarization in the region has intensified, creating a deep divide between the relatively stable urban center and the frontline periphery.