War in Ukraine. Weekly digest of the key events
17 March, 2022,
13:48
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine
At around 5 am Kyiv time, Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine. In a special televised address, he said that Russia will conduct “a special military operation” to “demilitarize” and “denazify” Ukraine, as well as to “protect people who been subjected to abuse and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.”
Within minutes of Putin’s short speech, Russian forces began shelling Ukraine, namely Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, and Kyiv oblasts heavily. The initial wave of strikes involved cruise missiles, artillery, and airstrikes targeting Ukraine’s military infrastructure, airbases, and border positions.
Multiple explosions were heard in the capital, Kyiv, and in the eastern city of Kharkiv. Air raid sirens were activated. Immediately after, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed nationwide martial law.
During the first day of the war, Russian invaders attacked military facilities in cities and villages all over Ukraine with missiles, helicopters, tanks, and ships. They launched grad missiles and other artillery over the Ukrainian-Russian border. They also captured the Chornobyl nuclear power plant and have taken its staff as hostages. At the same time, Russian hackers hit government sites and banks with cyberattacks.
According to Armed Forces of Ukraine data, on February 24 alone, Russia’s losses amounted to approximately 800 people killed and wounded soldiers. Russian troops killed 137 Ukrainian military and civilians.
The main news as of August 8, 2022
- Ukrainian food is successfully exported by sea. Starting from August 1, several ships left Ukrainian ports, passed inspection in Turkey and continued their way to the Middle East and Africa. Moreover, the first ship since February 24 came to Odesa (the others were there until February 24, they didn’t have time to leave the Black Sea). During this time, there were no critical situations or shelling. According to the parties, the deal is taking place within the framework of previously agreed conditions. According to various estimates, Ukraine can export up to 70 million tons of food, receiving from $15 to $20 billion for it.
- On the front, the most difficult area for Ukrainian troops remains the territory of Donbas. The Russian army continues its offensive with the aim of seizing new territory in this area. The Ukrainian side claims it is managing to keep the previously occupied borders already — Russia hasn’t managed to seize the entire territory of the Luhansk oblast yet, and in Donetsk, it controls 56% of the territories. It is possible that Ukraine will have to retreat again with the Russians strengthening the offensive.
- After a successful counteroffensive in the Kherson direction, Russia transferred a high number of troops to this oblast. The Ukrainian military reports that the Russian army wants to organize its counteroffensive and prevent Ukraine from developing the potential of its offensive, in particular, to destroy the bridgehead of the Ukrainian army on the Ingulets River. The operation has not been successful yet, but everything depends on how many troops Russia will transfer to Kherson. On the Ukrainian side, HIMARS continue to operate in the oblast, destroying warehouses with ammunition.
- The military considers the Izyum direction is one of the most promising for Ukraine right now. Russia is forced to weaken this area and transfer troops to Kherson because the occupiers could not actively advance in all directions. If Ukraine manages to develop an offensive (and the General Staff is actively working on this), there may be significant progress in the Kharkiv oblast. Kherson is more significant than Izyum for Russia, so they can “give away” this city to keep control under the Kherson oblast.
- At the same time, it is important for Ukraine to conduct an effective and quick counteroffensive now, first of all in the Kherson oblast. This can be a signal for the world community that the transferred weapons are effective and give a real result — it’s necessary to supply them more. In the opposite case, the enthusiasm of the partner countries may fade: Europe is preparing for a cold winter and is struggling with record inflation for decades.
Week of the war in numbers
- As of August 8, Ukrainian army killed approximately 42,600 Russian soldiers in the war against Ukraine, as reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
- The UN has reported, as of 8 August, 12,867 civilian casualties since 24 February – 5,401 people killed and 7,466 injured.
The main news as of August 1, 2022
- The main news of the week was the tragedy in Olenivka, where the Russians kept Ukrainian POWs in the local colony. They fired thermobaric missiles at the building, killing about 50 people and critically injuring 90 more. Ukraine declared that the shelling was done by Russia. The murder of prisoners of war is a violation of the Geneva Conventions and the rules of warfare. The Ukrainian side believes that the Russians were trying to conceal torture this way.
- At the same time, Russia began to strengthen its position in the south of Ukraine. Equipment is being actively transferred there to prevent Ukraine from launching a quick counteroffensive and Kherson liberating.
- There is evidence that a pontoon crossing has already been built parallel to the Antonivsky bridge for the transfer of troops. In other words, Russia is preparing for defense. British intelligence indicates that the Russian Federation also feels weak in the Zaporizhzhya oblast, so it will strengthen its positions there as well.
- The shelling of cities and the killing of civilians don’t stop. Heavy shelling is heard almost every day in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. There are dozens of victims in Mykolaiv — one of them is Oleksandr Vadaturskyi, the founder of the Nibulon agricultural company and one of the richest people in Ukraine. A missile flew directly into his house. Missiles were launched again from the Belarus side.
- It seems that the long-awaited “grain deal” is starting to work. The first ship should leave the Ukrainian port already today, on August 1. Turkey acts as a guarantor, so there is hope that the ships will leave Ukraine without problems and deliver grain to buyers in Africa and the Middle East. According to various estimates, Ukraine will receive additional export revenues of $1 billion every month.
Week of the war in numbers
- As of August 1, Russia has lost more than 41,030 soldiers, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. On a dashboard, you can witness in real-time the current losses of Russian soldiers and military equipment in numbers.
- The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has verified, as of 24 July, 12,272 civilian casualties since 24 February – 5,237 people killed and 7,053 injured. More than half of the casualties (6,849) were recorded and corroborated in eastern Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
The main news as of July 25, 2022
- It seems that this week, we can already talk about the loss of the offensive potential of the Russian army or about their pause in preparation for a new attack. International experts note that the pause in the Russian offensive should be used for the Ukrainian counteroffensive as soon as possible to prevent the Russian military from adapting to the new realities of warfare.
- The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhniy, is not yet talking about the counteroffensive, but he said that the destruction of the occupiers’ ammunition depots by HIMARS made it possible to stabilize the front.
- Ukraine is actively working on the de-occupation of Kherson. Thanks to HIMARS, it has been possible to shell bridges near the city: heavy equipment can no longer go over the Antonovsky Bridge, and the bridge through the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has been damaged. This has already created a logistical collapse for occupiers: without these bridges, the supply of weapons and other necessary supplies for the Russian army has practically stopped.
- Meanwhile, Russia received the seventh package of sanctions. The biggest blow was the ban on exports of Russian gold, which earned the country a little less than $20 billion annually.
- Another victory for Ukraine is the food export agreement. On July 23, a day after Russia and Ukraine signed two separate deals with the UN and Turkey to reopen Black Sea ports for grain exports, Russians hit the seaport of Odesa with two missiles; the grain export infrastructure was not damaged.
- Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts continue to suffer from the intense shelling of military facilities and civilian infrastructure. At the same time, air-raid sirens sound in almost every oblast of Ukraine every day.
Week of the war in numbers
- As of July 25, Russia has lost more than 39,700 soldiers, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. The United States and the United Kingdom reported that the Russian army has about 50,000 dead and wounded soldiers. This is more than the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says, and the numbers are still impressive.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that at the height of the hostilities in May and June, Ukraine was losing 100-200 servicemen per day. Now that number has dropped to 30 dead and about 250 wounded per day.
The main news as of July 18, 2022
- The Russian army seems to have taken a tactical pause and reduced the intensity of the offensive in the east. Although Severodonetsk and Lysychansk have been occupied for a long time, there are practically no new territorial gains in the Russian Federation.
- At the same time, being unable to move forward, Russia has fired an unprecedented number of missiles at Ukrainian cities over the past week. The border areas are also constantly bombarded with various types of shelling, including mortar and artillery fire. For example, 140 missiles were fired at Sumy oblast for one day, and 60 — at the city of Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast.
- The biggest tragedy occurred in Vinnytsia, where three missiles hit the city center: 24 people died, including three children. The shells struck civilian infrastructure.
- Mykolaiv was under heavy shelling. Besides residential units, the Russian army also struck two local universities.
- Meanwhile, Ukraine is trying to organize a counteroffensive in Kherson oblast. The Ministry of Defense does not provide details, but according to international military experts, the front line has been moved further away from the Mykolaiv oblast, while the Russian army is reinforcing its positions without active offensive actions.
Week of the war in numbers
- According to various estimates, the Ukrainian army destroyed up to 30 Russian ammunition depots in the first two weeks of July. The US press has already published several articles stating that local officials are impressed with how skillfully Ukraine has mastered the work with HIMARS, as no one expected this.
- As of July 18, Ukrainian army killed approximately 38,450 Russian soldiers in the war against Ukraine, as reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
- At the same time, Russian occupants continue to use the explosive weapons with a wide impact area, causing civilian injuries and deaths. As of July 12, the UN High recorded 11,554 civilian casualties in the country: 5,024 killed – including 343 children – and 6,520 injured.
- The UN also reported the largest human displacement crisis in the world today. More than 9.1 million people have moved out of Ukraine, and more than 3.5 million have returned to the country since February 24. As of July 15, over 5.8 million refugees from Ukraine present across Europe.
The main news as of July 11, 2022
- The last week was rich in heavy losses for Russia – the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on the destruction of new and new ammunition depots almost every day. This became possible thanks to the artillery capable of precision strikes against distant targets, primarily the US HIMARS. Ukraine expects to receive four more units in the near future, bringing the total number to 12.
- The main targets of the Russian occupiers now are Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Bakhmut. The Russian invaders aims to completely capture Luhansk oblast, and Donetsk after that, in order to take control of the entire Donbas. According to Western intelligence, there are plans to occupy Kharkiv oblast, but there are no notable achievements of the Russians in this direction.
Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine
- The same situation is in Kherson oblast. At the end of the week, a message appeared from Ukraine that residents of Kherson oblast should evacuate by any means possible. The explanation came later: Defense Minister Reznikov stated that Zelensky had ordered the de-occupation of the south of Ukraine. Reznikov said that several plans were being developed to implement this order. On the same day, a message appeared that the armed forces liberated another village in Kherson oblast.
- Meanwhile, airstrikes and missile attacks continue in multiple other oblasts of Ukraine. On July 5 alone, the Russian forces hit a water tower in Khmelnytskyi oblast with three missiles, leaving people without supplies. On the same day, they conducted numerous missile strikes on border settlements in Sumy oblast. Fortunately, no one was killed.
- The good news is that people from all over the world continue to support Ukraine. On July 7, Lithuania sent a Bayraktar drone to Ukraine, for which the whole country raised €5.9 million. The Turkish manufacturer Baykar donated this drone for free. People in Poland are also collecting money to buy a drone for Ukraine. As of July 11, Poles raised $2.5 million.
Week of the war in numbers
- As of June 11, Russia has lost more than 37,400 soldiers, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. On a dashboard, you can witness in real-time the current losses of Russian soldiers and military equipment in numbers.
- At the same time, the Russians continued to shatter the lives of millions of civilians across Ukraine. According to UN data, over 11,200 people were killed and injured by the occupant’s shelling. As the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reported, the number includes at least 991 children.
- Talking about the Ukrainian infrastructure, the Government reported that some 25,000 kilometers of roads and more than 300 bridges, among other critical objects across the country worth a total of $95 billion, have been damaged or destroyed due to the war.
- Also, according to Mariupol City Council, the restoration of Mariupol after the Russian invaders destroyed it will cost more than $14 billion and will take up to 10 years. The European Investment Bank and large Ukrainian businesses have already declared their readiness to support the process.
The main news as of July 4, 2022
- People in Ukraine have faced yet another escalation of hostilities over the past week — the number of missile strikes and, consequently, civilian casualties have increased across the country. On July 2 alone, Russian missile strikes on a residential nine-story building in Odesa oblast killed 21 people, including one child.
- On June 28, Russians hit a shopping mall in the center of Kremenchuk, central Poltava oblast, where over a thousand civilians were inside. President Zelensky called the attack a “brazen terrorist act” and declared that 20 civilians were killed and 59 were injured.
- The Russians left Zmiinyi (Snake) Island after long months of occupation. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that this was a “gesture of goodwill” and a step toward exporting Ukrainian grain. Of course, this is just propaganda. The island was under constant fire from Ukrainian aircraft, drones, and artillery.
- At the same time, last week, Ukrainian troops left Sievierodonetsk. This week, we saw the withdrawal from neighboring Lysychansk. Zelensky explained this by the desire to preserve the lives of soldiers of the Ukrainian army who could be surrounded. As the Ukrainian side claims, the retreat was a conscious decision. The Russian army is now forcing the river of Seversky Donets, which was a natural obstacle in the way of the troops.
- Belarus is becoming a bigger problem. Self-proclaimed President Lukashenko makes statements about a possible attack on Ukrainian territories from the north. Also, the country is carrying out a covert mobilization under the guise of military exercises. Ukraine claims that the situation is under control, and Ukraine’s Armed Forces are now ready for a possible offensive on the border.
- The situation in Kherson oblast remains somewhat unclear. There are sporadic public reports of a successful counterattack by Ukrainian forces, but the Ukrainian Defense Ministry asks everyone to refrain from making loud statements about the progress of the operation. According to unconfirmed data, the Armed Forces managed to break through the first line of the Russians’ defense, but there is still no talk of liberating the region. Moreover, Russia has already started a counteroffensive.
Week of the war in numbers
- The UN reports that the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, stands at 11,152, including 4,889 killed and 6,263 injured.
- The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the estimated losses of Russians in the war with Ukraine. As of the 131st day of full-scale war on the territory of Ukraine, the Russian army has lost 36,200 soldiers.
- Although the number of people returning to Ukraine has increased in the past month, some 6.27 million people are still internally displaced, and over 5.3 million became refugees in European countries, the UN informs.
The main news as of June 27, 2022
- After many weeks of fighting for the administrative center of Luhansk oblast, Ukrainian troops withdrew from Sievierodonetsk. Information about the exit is different: the Ukrainian side indicates that the exit was planned, without losses, and well organized. Other sources indicate that there was a loss of heavy equipment that could not be taken with troops across the destroyed bridges, and the retreat was chaotic through its organization at the last moment.
- Whether against the background of success on the Eastern Front or for some other reason, Russia began to actively shell Ukraine from the territory of Belarus. In just three days, more than 50 missiles were dropped at Ukrainian cities from the territory of the northern neighbor, from the Black and Caspian Seas. Lviv, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Kyiv, and Cherkasy oblasts were bombed.
- There has not been such a massive shelling for a long time. Many objects of civil infrastructure were damaged. On the morning of June 26, in Kyiv, a nine-story residential building was hit for the second time. The Russian missile strike on Kyiv also damaged a kindergarten nearby.
- It seems that the only positive news for Ukraine so far is obtaining the status of a candidate for EU membership: a unanimous vote took place on June 23. However, this is rather a symbolic gesture — there is a lot of work and reforms ahead that Ukraine needs to implement.
Week of the war in numbers
- As of June 27, Russia had lost approximately 35,000 troops in the war against Ukraine. On a dashboard, you can witness in real-time the current losses of Russian soldiers and military equipment in numbers.
- The UN reports that the number of civilian casualties since February 24, 2022, stands at 10,631, including 4,731 killed and 5,900 injured. Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, missile and air strikes.
- The Ukrainian economy continues to count losses. Every month more and more gold and foreign exchange reserves are burned. In May, this figure amounted to $3.4 billion and will grow.
- Donor assistance from partner countries is slow, with more than $7 billion received so far, although twice as much is needed. Ukrainians are already warned that the winter will be severe: it is unclear where to get gas and how to pay for it — there is a lack of costs in the budget (it’s almost $8 billion).
The main news as of June 20, 2022
- The situation on the military front remains difficult. Fighting resumed in the direction of Kharkiv. There were attempts to attack Bakhmut to block access to Lysychansk. The battles for Sievierodonetsk are still going on, and the Russian army is having positional success.
- Sustained shelling was also reported in the eastern Kharkiv oblast and fighting and hostilities continued in the south of the country throughout the week. All of this is happening along with daily reports of airstrikes right across the country, including in Zaporizhzhia oblast in the south-east, Dnipropetrovsk in the center and Sumy in the north, as well as Lviv and Ternopil oblasts in the west.
- On June 17 alone, Russian forces fired on Sumy oblast with all types of weapon. Overall, the oblast received more than 100 “incomings.”
- On the morning of June 19, explosions were heard in the Vyshhorod district of Kyiv oblast — air defense forces struck a target of invaders.
- There are still great difficulties with weapons from European partners: while Ukraine is asking for 1,000 artillery systems, France and the United States have agreed to give another ten. The joint meeting of NATO defense ministers, according to Ukraine, was very “fruitful,” but supply still needs time.
- The good news is that from July 1, 2022, Ukraine will be implementing an entry visa regime for citizens of the Russian Federation, President Volodymyr Zelensykyy announced on June 17.
Week of the war in numbers
- Restraining the enemy comes at great cost: hundreds of soldiers of the Ukrainian army suffer daily losses. However, something unclear is already happening with the exact numbers. Every high-ranking Ukrainian official gives their own number: up to 100 people a day, up to 200 a day, and even up to 500 a day dead and up to 1,000 wounded.
- Ukrainians have been asked not to react to these figures: they seem to be used as an attempt to put pressure on European partners to provide weapons more quickly.
- As of June 20, Russia has also lost more than 33,800 soldiers, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. On a dashboard, you can witness in real-time the current losses of Russian soldiers and military equipment in numbers.
- Over 116,000 residential buildings, which used to be home to about 3.5 million Ukrainians, have been damaged across the country in nearly three months of the war, according to estimations shared by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine. The figure includes 12,300 multi-story apartment buildings and over 104,000 private houses.
The main news as of June 13, 2022
- There have been no major changes on the front line over the last week — the Donbas oblast continues to face the fiercest fighting. Everything may change with the arrival of heavy weapons for Ukraine from the allies. In that case, Ukrainian army will switch to a counterattack. Now it has only managed to deter the enemy, but without much progress in its own advance.
- Russians continue the battle for Sievierodonetsk. Previous predictions that the city would be captured by June 10, the day of Russia, have not come true: Ukrainian troops have managed to hold back the enemy. But they pay the high price: according to Ukrainian officials, up to 200 Ukrainian soldiers die daily.
- At the same time, airstrikes and missile attacks continue in multiple oblasts in Ukraine. In southern Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts, the situation remains tense. The shelling continues in different parts of this region, damaging civilian infrastructure and causing civilian casualties.
- On June 9, a missile launched from Belarus hit a residential building in Novohrad-Volynskyi, the city in Zhytomyr oblast. During the week, shelling also occurred in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.
- The situation also remains dangerous in western Ukraine. On June 11, as a result of a rocket attack on Chortkiv, Ternopil oblast, 23 people were injured, including civilians and soldiers.
Week of the war in numbers
- More than 13 million people have fled their homes since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the United Nations. As of June 9, over 4.9 million refugees from Ukraine were registered in Europe. More than 3.2 million have applied for temporary residence in Poland, Russia, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, and Belarus.
- The UN reports that the number of civilian casualties since February 24, 2022, stands at 9,785, including 4,395 killed and 5,390 injured. Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and airstrikes.
- As of June 13, Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Russia’s losses are more than 32,300 soldiers.
- The Ukrainian army losses increased significantly due to a change in the format of the war — artillery is now in play. According to British intelligence, the current losses of the Ukrainian army and Russians are commensurate. The Ukrainian authorities declared the loss of 10,000 soldiers. The exact figures are unknown.
The main news as of June 6, 2022
- Fighting continues to escalate in eastern Ukraine, particularly in Luhansk, Donetsk, and Kharkiv oblasts, but with daily reports of missile attacks elsewhere in the country.
- On June 1 alone, the explosions were heard in Lviv oblast — a missile hit transport infrastructure and two people were injured. On the same day, Russians launched three rockets on Dnipropetrovsk oblast from Tornado MLRS. Also, a rocket attack was recorded in Sumy oblast and shelling was reported in Mykolaiv oblast.
- On June 4, a Russian air-launched cruise missile hit warehouses on the site of a farming enterprise in Odesa oblast. According to preliminary information, two people were wounded.
- On the morning of June 5, four Russian missiles struck the Darnytsia Railway Car Repair Plant on the left bank of Kyiv. They were fired from the Caspian Sea. As Deputy Minister of Defence Hanna Maliar claimed, Ukrainian capital remains the main target of the Russian occupiers, so it is constantly under threat.
- As of June 5, almost 60% of the territory of Zaporizhzhya oblast was temporarily occupied by Russian troops. At the same time, its 77 settlements were cut off from electricity due to hostilities, according to the head of Zaporizhzhya oblast Military Administration Oleksandr Starukh.
Week of the war in numbers
- President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russian occupation forces have already fired more than 2,500 missiles at Ukraine.
- Over 6.9 million Ukrainian people have crossed international borders since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
- The civilian toll of the ongoing military offensive continues to grow. As of June 6, the number of civilian casualties stands at 9,394 – including 4,253 killed, according to the UN.
- Losses in the war in Ukraine: as of June 6, Russia has also lost more than 31,250 soldiers, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. On a dashboard, you can witness in real-time the current losses of Russian soldiers and military equipment in numbers.
The main news as of May 30, 2022
- On May 24, the war in Ukraine entered its fourth month. During the past week, heavy fighting continued in eastern Ukraine, mainly in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. Russia has intensified its attack on Severodonetsk, a key city in the Donbas. Its forces have been capturing areas of the city but have not yet fully encircled it.
- At the same time, there were also daily reports of airstrikes, missile strikes, and bombardments across Ukraine. On May 29 alone, Russian forces fired ten times on border areas of Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts from the territory of Russia. The day before, occupiers launched missile strikes on Kryvyi Rih, the city in Dnipropetrovsk oblast.
- Kharkiv and Kharkiv oblast are being shelled unceasingly. On May 26 alone, as a result of the shelling of the three districts of the city, nine people were killed and 19 injured.
- Southern Ukraine also continued to be affected by ground fighting and airstrikes. On May 29, occupiers shelled the residential area of Mykolaiv, one person was killed and two people were injured.
- In Kherson and Kherson oblast, Russians have blocked Ukrainian connections and cut off communications — phone and internet connections went down. At the same time, occupation authorities implemented a Russian operator with a telephone country code +7 and began distributing mobile cards. The same situation is in Zaporizhzhia oblast.
Week of the war in numbers
- Over 6.8 million Ukrainian people have crossed international borders since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. According to the Adviser to Ukraine’s Interior Minister Viktor Andrusiv, this number is higher — 7.6 million. At the same time, 4.8 million people have already returned to Ukraine, as he said on May 31.
- The UN reported the civilian toll of the ongoing war stands at 9,029 — including 4,113 killed. Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes.
- As of May 30, Russia has also lost more than 30,350 soldiers, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
- There is a dashboard of Russian losses in the war against Ukraine — minusrus.com, where you can witness in real-time the current losses of Russian soldiers and military equipment in numbers and the percentage compared to the total Russian combat power.
The main news as of May 23, 2022
- On May 22, the Ukrainian parliament extended martial law for another 90 days — til the end of August 2022 — as the country continues to battle against the unprovoked invasion of Russian forces. Since February 24, the Council has twice extended martial law for 30 days.
- Eastern Ukraine remains the center of hostilities, especially Luhansk oblast. On May 18, hostilities in Luhansk oblast were reported to move closer to its administrative center — Sievierodonetsk. Active fighting and air attacks have also been reported in eastern Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts.
- At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been regaining control over the occupied towns step by step. On May 19, the Ukrainian army liberated 23 Russian-occupied towns and villages in Kharkiv oblast.
- Airstrikes and missile attacks continued in multiple oblasts in Ukraine. Namely, they reportedly affected an oil refinery in Poltava oblast, the energy infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk oblast, the civilian infrastructure in Sumy, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Zhytomyr oblasts, and the railway infrastructure in Lviv oblast.
- On May 22, the Russian occupiers shelled Mykolaiv with cluster bombs, as the Mayor of the city Olexander Sienkevych reported.
- On May 19, the first trial for the war crime in Ukraine started. A 21-year-old Russian soldier, Vadim Shishimarin, has pleaded guilty to killing an unarmed civilian in Sumy oblast.
Week of the war in numbers
- According to UN data, over 14 million people have fled their homes since Russia invaded Ukraine. More than 6.5 million people have crossed international borders. At the same time, 1.8 million Ukrainians have returned to Ukraine as of May 17.
- The UN reports that the number of civilian casualties since February 24 stands at 8,462, including 3,930 killed and 4,532 injured. Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, missile and airstrikes.
- The total loss of Russian troops in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war is approaching 29,200 soldiers. On a dashboard you can witness in real-time the current losses of Russian soldiers and military equipment in numbers.
The main news as of May 16, 2022
- Eastern Ukraine continues to face the fiercest fighting. Russians continue to hit numbers of settlements in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Sumy oblasts with artillery and rockets. As of May 13, the 79th day of the full-scale war, Russian occupiers have launched over 140 missiles at Dnipropetrovsk oblast alone.
- Russians continue to shell Sumy oblast. At dawn on May 17, Russian troops launched a missile strike on the town of Okhtyrka in Sumy oblast. Five Russian missiles struck peaceful civilian facilities and caused considerable destruction. At least five people have been injured.
- Southern and south-eastern Ukraine also continued to be affected by ground fighting and airstrikes, including one of the largest port cities in the Black Sea basin — the city of Odesa and Odesa oblast.
- The central parts of Ukraine were also targeted by missile attacks. On May 12, the Russian occupiers once again bombed the Kremenchuk refinery in Poltava oblast with four shells arrived.
- On May 16, more than 260 Ukrainian soldiers were evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol after a weeks-long standoff with Russian forces in the besieged southern port city. Fifty-three badly wounded soldiers were taken to the town of Novoazovsk, held by Russian-backed rebels. Another 211 were evacuated using a humanitarian corridor to another rebel-held town Olenivka.
Week of the war in numbers
- Over 6.2 million Ukrainian people have crossed international borders since Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, and at least 7.8 million people have been internally displaced.
- According to the UN, at least 7,564 civilian casualties have been reported, including 3,668 killed.
- As of May 16, Russia has also lost more than 27,700 soldiers, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. There is a dashboard of Russian losses in the war against Ukraine — minusrus.com. There you can witness in real-time the current losses of Russian soldiers and military equipment in numbers and the percentage compared to the total Russian combat power.
The main news as of May 9, 2022
- Intense fighting and bombardments continued to affect multiple areas across Ukraine, mainly reported in eastern Ukraine — in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk oblasts, as well as in southern Ukraine — in Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts. At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, step by step, regained control over the occupied towns. On May 6, the Ukrainian army liberated five towns in Kharkiv oblast alone.
- On May 8, Russia also shelled the border areas of Ukraine’s Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts with ten rockets launched by volley fire systems from the territory of the Russian Federation. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
- Clashes also continued in south Ukraine — in Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts. During the week, Russian forces launched multiple rocket attacks on Odesa oblast, destroying recreational areas and civilian infrastructure, leaving towns without electricity. On the morning of May 10, a total of seven Soviet-type rockets were fired into the city. Due to their age, they failed the aim and hit a shopping and entertainment center in the village of Fontanka in the Odesa district.
- On May 3, several missiles damaged three electric substations in Lviv. On the same evening, there was also a reported missile attack on railway infrastructure in Kirovohrad oblast in central Ukraine, at a major junction for trains evacuating civilians, and in other oblasts, including, for the first time, Zakarpatska oblast, Ukraine’s westernmost oblast.
- On May 9, President Biden signed a bill reviving the World War II-era lend-lease program to streamline U.S. military assistance to Ukraine as it fights off a Russian invasion.
Week of the war in numbers
- Over 5.89 million Ukrainian people have crossed international borders since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, and at least 7.7 million people have been internally displaced.
- The UN reports that the number of civilian casualties since February 24, 2022, stands at 7,061, including 3,381 killed and 3,680 injured.
- As of May 9, Russia has also lost more than 25,650 soldiers, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
The main news as of May 2, 2022
- On April 28, two powerful explosions were heard in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv, in the city center. As a result of Russian missile shelling, a fire broke out in a 25-story residential building with partial destruction of the first and second floors. Ten people were injured, and one woman was killed.
A result of Russian missile shelling of residential building in the center of Kyiv.
Photo: UP
- On the same evening, the occupiers carried out three strikes on one of the transport hubs on the territory of Fastiv, the city in Kyiv oblast.
- Eastern and south Ukraine continues to be the epicenter of the ongoing military offensive, with clashes in Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv oblasts intensifying. Relentless shelling, airstrikes, and missile attacks continue to batter those areas.
- On May 1, a long-awaited evacuation of civilians from a besieged Azovstal plant in Mariupol took place. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that about 100 civilians were evacuated to Zaporizhzhia. At the same time, dozens of civilians were evacuated by occupiers to Russian-held territory forcibly.
- As many as 100,000 people may still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant — the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians.
- On April 30, Russia destroyed Odesa airport with a missile attack from the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea; fortunately, there were no casualties.
Week of the war in numbers
- The total amount of direct damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure as a result of the war started by Russia reached $92 billion. The total loss amounts to over $600 billion.
- The UN recorded 6,469 civilian casualties in the country: 3,153 killed and 3,316 injured.
- As of May 1, the number of killed children remains unchanged — 219; the number of children who suffered wounds has risen to 404.
- Over 5.5 million Ukrainian people have crossed international borders since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
As of May 2, Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Russia’s losses are 23,800 soldiers.
The main news as of April 25, 2022
- The hostilities continue to be concentrated in eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, primarily in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk oblasts. On April 24, Easter Sunday, more than ten people were killed and 20 wounded as a result of enemy shelling there. At the same time, as many as nine Russian missiles hit Kremenchuk’s infrastructure.
- The city of Mariupol is still under siege. The Ukrainian military holds the Azovstal plant. Russians launch missile and bomb strikes at the positions of our soldiers on the territory of the plant regularly. Ukrainian units, as well as civilians are under the blockade. Russians continue to disrupt the evacuation from Mariupol to Ukrainian-controlled territories.
- The situation in Kherson oblast is tense. Russian occupiers are shelling the settlements of the oblast and in the direction of neighboring oblasts. The territory is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe.
- On April 23, Odesa came under rocket fire. The multi-story building was engulfed in flames, but rescuers managed to cope with the fire. People are currently removing debris. So far, six people are known to have died, including one child, and 18 people have been injured.
- On April 25, the head of Ukrzaliznytsia, Oleksandr Kamyshin, announced the shelling of 5 railway stations in the central and western parts of Ukraine.
Week of the war in numbers
- According to the UN, the civilian toll of the ongoing war stands at 5,718 – including 2,665 killed. The numbers include more than 606 children: 215 of them were killed, and 391 — were wounded.
- Nearly 7.7 million people have been displaced internally since February 24. More than 5.1 people have crossed international borders to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, and other countries
- The total loss of Russian troops in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war is approaching 22,000 soldiers.
The main news as of April 18, 2022
- The fiercest fighting continues to take place in eastern Ukraine, primarily in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and in parts of Kharkivska oblast. According to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, between 13 and 17 April, eighteen civilians were killed and 106 more injured due to hostilities and airstrikes in Kharkiv alone.
- Hostilities continue to be concentrated in the southern part of Ukraine as well. Mykolaiv, Kherson and the surrounding areas have been under continuous rocket shelling by Russian forces but remain under Ukrainian control.
- On April 14, in the Black Sea, Ukrainian Neptune missiles had struck the Russian Moskva warship — the Kremlin’s pride and the symbol of its naval power. In apparent retaliation for the sinking of the occupants’ important naval ship, Russia pounded military targets throughout Ukraine in the following days.
- On April 15, overnight missile strikes partially destroyed the Vizar machine-building plant on the outskirts of Kyiv, which produced the Neptun anti-ship missile.
- At the same time, in the territories of Kyiv oblast liberated from Russian invaders, law enforcement officers have already found more than 900 bodies of civilians — it is double the number announced two weeks ago by Ukrainian authorities. Most of them have gunshot wounds.
- Despite the focus on the eastern offensive, Russian forces also struck several cities across the country in the recent week, including Lviv in the west. On April 16, the occupants’ Su-35 aircraft carried out missile strikes on Lviv oblast. In two days, another five missiles struck the city at night — seven people were killed, 12 wounded, according to Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi.
Week of the war in numbers
- The total amount of direct damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure as a result of the war started by Russia reached $84.8 billion. The total loss amounts to over $600 billion.
- The number of people displaced by the ongoing fighting has surpassed the 12-million mark: more than 4.9 million people have crossed international borders, and at least 7.1 million people have been internally displaced.
- The UN reports that the number of civilian casualties since February 24, 2022, stands at 4,890, including 2,072 killed and 2,818 injured. Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and airstrikes.
- As of April 18, Ukraine’s Armed Forces neutralized over 20,600 Russian soldiers.
The main news as of April 11, 2022
- Eastern Ukraine continues to be the epicenter of the ongoing military offensive, with clashes in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk oblasts intensifying. Relentless shelling, airstrikes, and missile attacks continue to batter the city of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, and surrounding areas. During the April 10-11, Kharkiv oblast’s residential neighborhoods alone were shelled 66 times, according to Governor Oleh Synehubov. Eleven people were killed, including a 7-year-old child.
- On the morning of the 8th of April, a railway station in Kramatorsk came under attack. Russians hit it with two Tochka-U rockets while nearly 4,000 people were waiting for evacuation trains. At least 50 people, including five children, were killed, and over 100 — were injured.
- Fighting and shelling continue in the territories of Kherson oblast, which are near Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolayiv oblasts. It is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. Currently, 106 settlements are without electricity.
- The security situation in the northern part of the country is reportedly improving following the withdrawal of the Russian Federation forces. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine has already started clearing explosive ordnance in areas around Kyiv. Сommunity services are working on removing debris of shattered buildings, damaged vehicles and military equipment from the streets.
Week of the war in numbers
- During the week, the direct losses of Ukraine’s economy due to the war increased by $12.2 billion, and on April 11 crossed the mark of $80.4 billion. The total losses of the Ukrainian economy amount to $600 billion.
- Over 4.5 million Ukrainian people have crossed international borders since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The most popular destinations in the EU remain Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and Slovakia. So far, over 7.1 million have been internally displaced.
- The civilian toll of the ongoing military offensive continues to grow. As of April 11, the number of civilian casualties stands at 4,335, including 1,842 killed, according to the UN. The numbers include more than 525 children: 183 children were killed, and 342 — were wounded.
- As of April 11, Russia has lost around 19,500 soldiers, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
The main news as of April 4, 2022
- As of April 4, the demining and clearance are continuing in Irpin, Bucha, Vyshhorod, and Brovary, towns near Kyiv, which were liberated after a month-long occupation. Shocking images emerged from Bucha showing dead bodies of civilians lying in the streets after Russian troops retreated. According to Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk, more than 300 civilians were killed — 280 are buried in mass graves that were found by Ukrainian forces.
- Almost all cities in Luhansk oblast are under constant mortar fire; fires are everywhere. Shelling continues in Donetsk oblast. The situation in Mariupol has not changed. According to the Mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boichenko, there are still about 130,000 people who can not to leave the city due to the actions of the Russian army.
- Residential buildings in the city of Izium in Kharkiv oblast, which has been blocked by the Russian occupiers since the beginning of March, are destroyed by almost 80%. Around 15,000-20,000 peopleremain trapped in the city, where they there is no electricity, heat, and safe water.
- Russian occupiers bombed the territory of the oil depot in Ternopil for the first time. Fortunately, there are no victims.
- The situation in the southern oblasts of Ukraine is deteriorating. Explosions and shelling are continuing on the territory of the whole Kherson oblast, especially on the borders of Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv oblasts. There is no electricity or water in the villages. Also, there is no medicine at all, and shops have been closed since the beginning of the war.
- On March 29, the Russian missile hit the building of the regional state administration in Mykolaiv. As of 4 April, the civilian death toll has risen to 36 as search-and-rescue crews continue to comb through the rubble in search of survivors.
Photo: Reuters
- As a result of Russia’s missile strikes on April 3 at the oil refinery and oil storage tanks in Odesa, fuel tanks have been destroyed, and buildings and gas communications have been damaged.
Week of the war in numbers
- Nearly 6.5 million people have been forcibly displaced within Ukraine, while more than 4.2 million have fled across international borders. The most popular destinations in the EU remain Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and Slovakia. At the same time, over 351,000 people have crossed the Russian border, more than 13,000 — Belarusian.
- According to the UN, at least 3,527 civilian casualties have been reported, including 1,430 killed. The numbers include more than 425 children: 161 children were killed, and 264 children were injured.
- As of April 4, losses in the Russian army in Ukraine exceed 18,000 persons.
The main news as of March 28, 2022
- This week western Ukraine witnessed the worst attacks of the ongoing war. On March 26, four rockers hit Lviv. Two of them struck a fuel depot in the city, injuring at least five people, followed shortly by another airstrike that hit a military factory. The same day, in neighboring Rivne oblast, local authorities reported that a missile strike destroyed an oil depot in Dubno.
- Fighting continues in Bucha and Hostomel in Kyiv oblast. On March 28, the territory of the city of Irpin was liberated from the Russian troops.
- Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts continue to be the epicenter of the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. In Mariupol, where 90% of the city has been affected by active fighting, around 160,000 people (30% of the population) remain without adequate food, safe water, and electricity. According to local authorities, almost 5,000 civilian people have been killed.
- Another huge problem in Mariupol is the reported forcible evacuation of residents to the Russian territory. While around 60,000 people have been evacuated to Ukraine, local authorities estimate that 20,000-30,000 residents from Mariupol have been forcibly evacuated to NGCA and Russia, the Mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boichenko, said.
- The situation in Chernihiv, north of Ukraine, continues to deteriorate rapidly. On the night of March 22-23, Russia occupied and destroyed the bridge crossing the Desna River in the direction of Kyiv. So people in Chernihiv remained trapped in the city without electricity, heating, and gas. On March 28 alone, there were eight fires in Chernihiv oblast due to the Russian army shelling populated areas.
Week of the war in numbers
- The destruction of vital civilian infrastructure continues to rise. As Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote, since February 24, Ukraine has suffered damages and losses amounting to about $565 billion. And this figure continues to rise amid the ongoing fighting.
- Over 3.9 million Ukrainian people have crossed international borders to neighboring countries since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. More than 6.5 million people have been internally displaced.
- According to the UN, the civilian toll of the ongoing war stands at 2,975 – including 1,151 killed. At the same time, more than 918,700 users across some 1,435 settlements in Ukraine remain without electricity, the Energy Ministry of Ukraine said. Around 6 million people either have limited or no access to safe water, and active hostilities prevent repair crews from fixing damaged systems and restoring access to water.
- As of March 28, losses in the Russian army in Ukraine exceed 17,000 soldiers.
The main news as of March 21, 2022
- In the past two weeks, there has been an increase in attacks on both military and civilian infrastructure in western Ukraine, including airports and military facilities in Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, and Volyn oblasts.
- Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts continued to suffer from intense shelling of military facilities, as well as civilian infrastructure. Periodically, the Russians fired on the outskirts of Chernihiv — there has been no light, water or heat in the whole city for almost two weeks now.
- Port city Mariupol in Donetsk oblast remains a key strategic target for the Russian military. Their troops have besieged Mariupol and destroyed or damaged up to 90% of the city, a deputy mayor of the city said on March 17.
- On March 19, Russian forces bombed and destroyed an art school sheltering about 400 women, children, and elderly people in Mariupol. This happened after last week’s bombing of the city’s Drama Theatre and Neptune sports center, where more than 1,000 people have sought shelter amid ongoing hostilities.
- As of March 21, over 100,000 residents remained trapped in encircled Mariupol with supplies running out and aid blocked from entering, while Russia continued its unrelenting attack on the city from land, air, and sea. More than 2,500 civilians have been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine.
- Fighting and shelling intensified in Kyiv oblast. At the same time, Russians continued to damage the capital. On March 20, they bombed a shopping mall in the Podilskyi district of Kyiv and reportedly left at least eight people dead and another injured.
Week of the war in numbers
- As of March 21, nearly 6.5 million people have been forcibly displaced within Ukraine, while almost 3.5 million have fled across international borders – more than 2 million of whom have sought refuge in Poland alone.
- At the same time, more than 12 million people remain stranded within affected areas across Ukraine, unable to leave due to ongoing clashes, destruction of bridges and roads, and a lack of resources or information on where to find safety and appropriate accommodation.
- The UN has recorded 2,421 civilian casualties in Ukraine, including 925 killed. In just 24 days, the confirmed civilian death toll has already reached the equivalent of around 70% of all confirmed civilian deaths over the last seven years of fighting in eastern Ukraine combined – 1,320 civilians were killed between 2015 and 2021.
- As of March 21, Ukraine’s Armed Forces neutralized about 15,000 Russian soldiers.
The main news as of March 14, 2022
- Intense fighting continued to damage critical civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, hospitals, and water and gas pipelines all over Ukraine — in the north, east, and south of the country. Airstrikes hit residential areas in Zhytomyr, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Odesa, and Mykolaiv oblasts. As reported by CNN, Russia has fired a total of 600 missiles since its invasion of Ukraine began.
- Russia bombed Mariupol and continued to block evacuation from there. On March 9, Russian troops carried out an air raid on a maternity hospital there, dropping several powerful bombs. As a result, they destroyed the building, killed three people, including one child, and wounded 17 people.
- On March 14 only, 17 apartment buildings and homes, 13 infrastructure facilities, including six schools, were damaged in Donetsk oblasts. Due to an interrupted power supply at the Karlivka Filter Station, more than 200,000 people were left without access to water.
- Fighting continued to intensify in the outskirts of Kyiv, as well as closer to the heart of the capital. In Irpin, Bucha, Vorzel, Kotsiubynske in Kyiv oblast people have been completely cut off from the gas and electricity supply, while Morkets and Zavorychi have been left without communications amid ongoing hostilities. On March 14, Russian artillery hit a nine-story apartment block in the Obolon neighborhood in Kyiv. Also, they shelled Antonov Aircraft Plant and a nearby residential building.
- The same day, two Russian missiles hit a TV tower near Rivne — nine people were killed, and the same number were injured.
- More and more international companies suspended their businesses in Russia and Belarus and imposed new sanctions this week. Sony, Depositphotos, Amazon, Fiverr, Upwork, Miro, GitLab, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Condé Nast are among them.
Week of the war in numbers
- Since the invasion, more than 2.8 million people have fled Ukraine to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova, and other European countries that do not border Ukraine. More than 130,000 have crossed the Russian border, over 1,200 — Belarusian. More than 1.9 million people have been internally displaced.
- According to the UN, at least 1,834 civilian casualties have been reported, including 691 killed, though the UN says that actual numbers are likely much higher. In Mariupol alone, municipal authorities report more than 2,500 civilian deaths.
- As of March 14, losses in the Russian army in Ukraine exceed 12,000 persons.
The main news as of March 7, 2022
- During the week, damage to civilian infrastructure was reported in Chernihiv, Korosten, Mykolaiv, Okhtyrka, Ovruch, Trostianets, Zhytomyr, and multiple locations in government-controlled parts of Luhansk oblast and non-government-controlled parts of Donetsk oblast, including the cities of Donetsk and Horlivka. Kharkiv continued to suffer from airstrikes, causing civilian casualties and damage to critical civilian infrastructure.
- Increasingly violent clashes continued in the outskirts of Kyiv. The cities have been under attack for more than a week — people remained trapped without water, food, and electricity. Local authorities attempted to negotiate “safe passages” to carry out evacuations. However, Russians disrupted the evacuation with shelling.
Russia munitions damaged several buildings in Vasylkiv, Kyiv oblast, including a residential complex, a pharmacy, and an educational institution. March 1, 2022. Photo by Alex Lourie 
Consequences of Russian attacks on Bucha, Kyiv oblast. March 1, 2022. Photo by Serhii Nuzhnenko 
People crowd the small basement of a house, used as shelter from Russian airstrikes in Gorenka, outside Kyiv. March 2, 2022. Photo by Vadim Ghirda for APNews 
Civilians evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling and bombing. March 5, 2022. Photo by Aris Messinis 
Civilian homes destroyed by the Russian military in Irpin. March 5, 2022. Photo by Alex Lourie
- On March 4, Russian invaders attacked with artillery Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest of its kind in Europe, and seized control of it. The attack started a fire close to one of its six reactors (the reactors were not affected). It was later extinguished by emergency services. As of March 5, the nuclear power plant was already under the control of the Ukrainian Energoatom.
- Tech companies continued to suspend their business operations in Russia and Belarus due to the invasion of Ukraine, as well as support the Ukrainian army and people with donations. Apple stopped selling all of its products in Russia, Wise suspended money transfer services, Oracle and SAP, Visa and Mastercard suspended its work there, Spotify closed the Russian office, Airbnb and Cisco suspended all operations in Russia and Belarus, and many more international companies did the same.
Week of the war in numbers
- Population movements continue internally and across borders. Over 1.73 million Ukrainian people have crossed international borders since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The most popular destinations in the EU remain Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and Slovakia.
- Over 80,000 Ukrainians came back from abroad. According to the Interior Ministry citing the State Border Guard Service, the vast majority of them were men who joined the ranks of the Armed Forces, other military formations, and the Territorial Defense Forces.
- UN recorded 1,335 civilian casualties in Ukraine: 474 killed and 861 injured. Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, missile, and airstrikes.
- As of March 7, Russia’s losses doubled: more than 11,000 Russian soldiers have been killed.
The main news as of March 1, 2022
- Russian invading forces continued intense shelling of the military facilities, airfields, as well as civilian infrastructure all over Ukraine. Kyiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv oblasts suffered from Russia’s missiles and artillery attacks the most.
- On February 27, missiles were launched from Belarus and hit an airport in Zhytomyr in northern Ukraine.
- On March 1, Russians bombed a TV tower in Kyiv and rained rockets on the city of Kharkiv, killing at least 15 people.
Kyiv. Russian forces hit a TV tower. March 1, 2022. Photo: Reuters 
Kyiv. Smoke billows from the TV tower. March 1, 2022. Photo: Reuters 
Kyiv. Smoke rises from a building after a blast. March 1, 2022. Photo: Reuters 
Kharkiv. Freedom Square at the downtown. March 1, 2022. Photo by Pavlo Dorogoy 
Kharkiv. Second Russian rocket hit the building of the Kharkiv regional state administration. March 1, 2022. Photo by Kirill Gonchar 
Kharkiv. Medics walk outside the regional administration building. March 1, 2022. Photo: Reuters
- Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US and the UK governments, as well as the European Union, imposed economic sanctions on the country. Sanctions included restricting foreign transactions to Russian banks. As a result, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other digital wallets have been suspended in Russia.
- On February 25, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, sent letters to Apple, Google, Meta, and Netflix asking them to restrict access to their services in Russia. The US tech companies responded by demonetizing ads that run on Russian state media accounts. Also, they took some steps to stop the spread of disinformation by labeling content from Russian state-affiliated media.
- The next day, Fedorov tweeted a message to Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, asking to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and access to satellite internet. The technology could help Ukrainians stay online even if Russia damaged the country’s main telecommunications infrastructure. On February 28, a lorry full of Starlink equipment arrived in Ukraine.
- On February 26, the Ministry of Digital Transformation created a volunteer group called the IT Army of Ukraine. Thousands of IT specialists, cyber specialists, and creative industry workers from countries around the world have joined the Ukrainian Telegram group dedicated to bringing down the Russian government and financial websites in response to the war.
Week of the war in numbers
- According to the situation report of OCHA Ukraine, as of March 1, at least 677,000 people have fled Ukraine to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, and other countries, while over 100,000 have so far been internally displaced.
- UN reported about 752 civilian casualties in Ukraine: 227 killed and 525 injured.
- Russia faced heavy losses, including over 5,700 killed and wounded soldiers.
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