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

9 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK044

Location

Слобожанське, Slobozhanske, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Between four and five civilians, including two women and two children, were killed and another child was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes and/or artillery shelling of the village of Slobozhanske on March 9, 2022. The DSNS posted on Telegram that shelling of the village of Slobozhanske in the Balakliya community struck a private residential building,…

Summary

Published
9 March 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK039

Location

Фельдман-Екопарк, Feldman Ecopark, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Two civilians, employees of the Feldman Ecopark, were killed when alleged Russian forces carried out mortar and automatic fire in the village of Lisne, Dergachivskyi district on March 8, 2022. Slovoidilo News reported that according to Kharkiv Ecopark's Facebook page, two civilians who came to feed the animals were killed when Russian soldiers attacked them…

Summary

Published
8 March 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

8 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK040

Location

Ізюм, Izium, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Civilians were wounded by alleged Russian shelling of Izium in Kharkiv on March 8, 2022. Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reported that artillery shelling in Izyum resulted in damage to the reception department of the central city hospital, the social security office, and a two-story residential building. Suspilne Media added that as a result of…

Summary

Published
8 March 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK041

Location

Донець, Donets, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Two civilians, a seven year old girl and her grandmother, were killed and a man was injured by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reported that at 7:05pm, at least three unguided aerial bombs were dropped on a residential building in the village of…

Summary

Published
8 March 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK042

Location

Балаклея, Balakleya, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On March 8th 2022, an explosion in the centre of Balakleia reportedly killed one civilian and injured three other civilians, as a result of alleged Russian warplanes. According to a local source on Twitter, "two planes flew over and dropped three bombs." Telegram posts by Kharkov Nash, which has expressed sympathies for Russia, speculated as…

Summary

Published
8 March 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK037

Location

Чугуїв, Chuhuyiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
One woman was killed by alleged Russian shelling of the city of Chuhuyiv on March 8, 2022. A tweet from @SerhiiZhorzh reported that a female Russian citizen was killed when Russian shelling hit her home in the city of Chuhuyiv, and that she had been living in Ukraine since 2012. Status Quo News attributed the…

Summary

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