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

24 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK079

Location

вул. Академіка Павлова, 120, “Нова Пошта”, “Nova Poshta,” 120 Akademika Pavlova Street, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On March 24th, Russian troops allegedly launched shells from the Black Sea, striking a residential area in Kharkiv, killing six people and wounding at least another 15. According to 24 Channel News, Russian forces fired upon a civilian area in which already exhausted civilians had gathered for humanitarian aid. Tweets from various users, including @eoin_mc_Sweeney…

Summary

Published
24 March 2022
Strike Type
Naval bombardment
Infrastructure
Humanitarian
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
15–17
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK078

Location

Лозова, Lozova, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On Tuesday March 22nd 2022, one civilian was reportedly killed and up to nine others injured by an alleged Russian missile strike in the city of Lozova, in the region of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. Suspilne Kharkiv telegram channel monitored the accounts of injuries to civilians from two, to four, to finally eight. Most sources,…

Summary

Published
22 March 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–9
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK076

Location

вул. Дружби Народів 263, 263 Druzhby Narodiv St, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Alleged Russian shelling in the Saltivka district of Kharkiv on the night of March 21st 2022 saw one man injured when a projectile hit the yard of a house. Civilians transported the man to hospital via civilian transport. This incident occurred on the third night of a spree of shelling incidents across Kharkiv. The Kharkiv…

Summary

Published
21 March 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK074

Location

ХТЗ, KhTZ, Kharkiv, Ukraine
At least one civilian, a man, reportedly died as a result of the shelling of residential areas of KhTZ in Kharkiv on March 20th, 2022. According to the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, the civilian lived on the fifth floor of a five-story building and was allegedly killed when a projectile hit the building’s roof.…

Summary

Published
20 March 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

20 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK075

Location

Харків, Kharkiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
In the afternoon on March 20 2022, one civilian was reportedly injured by alleged Russian shelling of a green corridor being used by a humanitarian convoy in Kharkiv. According to local sources, small arms and artillery fire damaged a car moving along the humanitarian corridor and injured the driver. On the night of 19 March…

Summary

Published
20 March 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK077

Location

Харьковская исправительная колония (№43), Kharkiv Correctional Colony (No. 43), Kharkiv, Ukraine
On March 20th, 2022, an alleged Russian artillery shelling hit a penitentiary building and neighboring residential buildings, killing one civilian inside the prison, in the town of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. Sources unanimously account for one convict being hit by shrapnel in the lower back and died later in the hospital, with the Kharkiv Human…

Summary

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