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

7 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK180

Location

Коробочкине, Korobochkyne, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On May 7th 2022, a civilian, a 28-year-old woman, was reportedly killed following alleged Russian shelling in Korobochkyne village, Chuguyiv district, Kharkiv oblast. All local sources quoted Kharkiv Regional Military Administration/Kharkiv's prosecutor office's report, which also added that a private house was hit. ACLED's reference code for this incident is UKR57382.

Summary

Published
7 May 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

7 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK181

Location

Золочів, Zolochiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On May 7th, 2022, one health worker, described as a nurse from a local medical institution, was reportedly killed following alleged Russian shelling in Zolochiv district. Local sources all quoted Oleg Sinegubov, the head of Kharkiv OVA. Airwars did not find any additional information on this incident. ACLED's reference code for this incident is UKR57389.…

Summary

Published
7 May 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

6 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK179

Location

Василенкове, Vasylenkove, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On May 6, 2022, five civilians, including a woman and a child, were reportedly killed by an alleged Russian-planted exploding mine when attempting to evacuate to Kharkiv by car from Kupyansk. According to a post shared by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office’s Telegram channel, Ukrainian authorities first became aware of this incident when approached by…

Summary

Published
6 May 2022
Strike Type
Ground operation
Infrastructure
Civilians reported killed
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK177

Location

Надеждівському Старостинському окрузі, Nadezhdi Starostyn district, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On May 5, 2022, a village within the Nadezhdi Starostyn District was reportedly hit with Russian rocket fire. According to local media and the mayor of the nearby city of Loziv, one civilian, identified as an elderly woman, was killed during this event. Posting on Facebook on May 6, the Mayor of Loziv, Sergiy Selenskyy,…

Summary

Published
5 May 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

5 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK178

Location

«Фельдман Екопарк» смт. Лісне Харківський район, territory of "Feldman Ecopark" Lisne Kharkiv district, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On May 5, 2022, Feldman Ecopark, a site located to the north of the city of Kharkiv, was reportedly hit with Russian shelling. According to officials, local media, and the park’s owner, this resulted in the death of a fifteen-year-old boy and up to three civilians sustaining injuries, two of them serious. According to the…

Summary

Published
5 May 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK174

Location

Старий Салтів, Staryi Saltiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Four civilians, including a child, were killed and two injured, a woman and her six month old daughter, in an alleged Russian military personnel attack near Staryi Saltiv on a 15 vehicle convoy which had been evacuating the then Russian occupied city of Vovchansk on May 4, 2022. Investigators arrived at the scene two days…

Summary

Published
4 May 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident