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

Search

199 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

2 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK171

Location

Харків, Kharkiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
One source, Oleg Sinegubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, reported on Telegram that two people were injured in Kharkiv on May 2nd 2022 as a result of Russian forces' shelling. There is no additional information available at this time. This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR57006.

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK167

Location

Уди, Udy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On 1st May 2022, at 11:30 am, the Russian armed forces reportedly shelled villages including Udy in the Bohodukhiv district of the Kharkiv region. Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reported that the artillery shelling hit amongst other infrastructure a car, killing one women immediately and wounding the two other passengers, a man and another woman.…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK168

Location

Золочів, Zolochiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On May 1st, 2022 at 6 pm, the Russian Federation army allegedly shelled the village of Zolochiv in the Bohodukhiv district of the Kharkiv region, killing one male civilian and damaging buildings in the village. The head of the village, Viktor Kovalenko, was quoted in reports by Cezke Novy news, Suspilne, Varta and Ukrainska Prada,…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK165

Location

Дергачівська громада, Derhachivska community, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On the morning of 1 May 2022, following a sustained period of shelling across the Kharkiv region, one person was injured in alleged Russian shelling on the Derhachivska community. Oleg Sinegubov, head of the Kharkiv OVA, reported on the "one casualty" in the Derhachivska community and warned residents via a Telegram post that they should not…

Summary

Published
1 May 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

1 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK166

Location

Одноробівка, Odnorobivka, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On the morning of 1 May 2022, at approximately 11am, alleged Russian artillery fire hit the village of Odnorobivka in the Bohodukhiv region of Kharkiv, injuring one man. The incident was reported widely across Ukrainian news outlets, with the information coming from the prosecutor’s office suggesting that the injured man was 27 years old and…

Summary

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

Incident Date

30 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK163

Location

Балаклія, Balakliia, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Heavy shelling by Russian forces on the 30th April 2022 in Balakliia caused an injury to a civilian according to the head of Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleg Sinegubov. However, no further information on the casualty can be confirmed. This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR56859.

Summary

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