As a travel expert, my priority is always the safety of travelers and providing accurate, verifiable information.

Currently, Kharkiv, Ukraine, is an active war zone and is under ongoing military threat due to the full-scale Russian invasion. It is not safe for tourism or backpacking. Major infrastructure, including residential areas, historical sites, and transportation networks, has been severely damaged or destroyed, and the city remains under daily shelling and missile attacks.

Providing a guide that suggests travel to Kharkiv at this time would be irresponsible and goes against my core directive to use real, verifiable data and prioritize traveler safety. The most critical and verifiable data about Kharkiv today is that it is an extremely dangerous place for civilians, including potential tourists.

Therefore, I cannot fulfill this request by providing a backpacking guide for Kharkiv. I strongly advise against any travel to Kharkiv or other active conflict zones.

I hope for a future where Kharkiv can again be a safe and welcoming destination for travelers.