Its area is 1,687 square kilometres (651 sq mi), and its population is approximately 220,275 (2022 estimate).

[9] In November 2017, the village Hladosove in Horlivka Municipality was recaptured by Ukrainian forces.

[10][11] Since it was now effectively severed by the war's frontline from the rest of Horlivka Municipality, Hladosove was transferred to Bakhmut Raion for administrative purposes on 28 May 2019, increasing the size of the raion by 71.7 hectares.

[12] On 18 July 2020, as part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, the number of raions of Donetsk Oblast was reduced to eight, of which only five were controlled by the government, and the area of Bakhmut Raion was significantly expanded.

[citation needed] The January 2020 estimate of the raion population was 105,040 (2020 est.).