Russian Military in Ukraine

On February 24th 2022, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, capturing large areas of territory while conducting airstrikes across the country. Following successful Ukrainian counteroffensives, the war mostly continues along the front lines, however civilians are harmed by sporadic Russian airstrikes across the country.

Airwars documented hundreds of allegations of civilian harm from Russian strikes in Ukraine during the 2022 Battle of Kharkiv, and has produced a number of research papers and investigations. Since 2023, Airwars’ focus on Ukraine is mainly on munitions identification and tracking.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

275 – 381

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely Russian Military actions in Ukraine for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the Russian Military. These originate from 200 separate alleged incidents.

30 – 33
children likely killed
51
women likely killed
471
likely injured
62
named victims

Russian Military estimate of civilian deaths

0

Confirmed civilian deaths, from Russian Military actions in Ukraine, originating from 0 separate incidents of civilian harm.

civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
323 – 432
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Ukraine.
200 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
275 – 381
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
138 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
41 – 42
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
60 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
7 – 9
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
2 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
0 seperate alleged incidents

Civilian Casualty Incidents — Russian Military in Ukraine

Start Date

End Date

Strike Type

Causes of Death / Injury

Strike Status

Civilian Harm Status

Belligerent Assessment

Casualty

Infrastructure

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199 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

20 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK134

Location

Kharkiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Three civilians, including a woman, were injured in alleged Russian shellings of the city of Kharkiv on April 20, 2022. Oleg Sinegubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, posted on Telegram that a total of five civilians were injured throughout the day of April 20th - three were injured in the city of Kharkiv…

Summary

Published
20 April 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK132

Location

Київський, Індустріальний, Салтівка, Московський район, Kyyivsʹkyy, Industrialʹnyy, Saltivka, Moskovsʹkyy district, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On April 19, 2022 alleged Russian missile strikes on the Moscow District of Kharkiv and other residential areas in Kharkiv are reported to have killed between three and 10 civilians and injured between 14 and 40 others. Most of the assessments of the strike are based on a report by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office,…

Summary

Published
19 April 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3–10
Civilians reported injured
14–40
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK130

Location

Немишлянський район, Nemyshlyanskyi district, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On April 18th 2022, alleged Russian forces shelled a residential area of Nemyshlyanskyi district in Kharkiv. Local reports listed three civilian fatalities, including an elderly woman, and four civilians were wounded, including a 17 year old. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, through Channel 24, reported that Russian forces struck several residential buildings, resulting in…

Summary

Published
18 April 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK131

Location

Основ’янский район, Osnovianskyi district, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Two civilians, a man and a woman, were killed by alleged Russian forces shelling on residential buildings and on a local playground in the Osnovianskyi district in Kharkiv,  on April 18th, 2022. A statement from the Ministry of the Defense of Ukraine declared that Russian forces shelled residential buildings and playgrounds.  Hromadske News reported that…

Summary

Published
18 April 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK127

Location

Довжик, Dovzhyk, Kharkiv, Ukraine
A woman was killed by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Dovzhyk April 17, 2022. Suspilne News reported that according to the head of the community Viktor Kovalenko, a woman was killed when a Russian shell struck the village of Dovzhyk in the Zolochiv community. Kovalenko stated that the woman is over 50 years old and…

Summary

Published
17 April 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK128

Location

центр Харкова, Київський та Шевченківський райони міста, the center of Kharkiv, Kyivsyy and Shevchenkivskyy districts of the city, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On the afternoon of April 17th 2022, Russia allegedly fired artillery in the city center of Kharkiv, killing at least five civilians and injuring at least 10 civilians, including a woman. Despite the preliminary estimates, most reports set the number of civilian deaths at 5 and of injured at 13, while others reported up to…

Summary

Published
17 April 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
10–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident