Russian Military in Ukraine

A member of the Ukrainian Emergency Service looks at the City Hall building in the central square following shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Pavel Dorogoy)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Ukraine
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
Agriculture

Incident Code

RUK194

Incident date

May 11, 2022

Location

Новий Мерчик, Noviy Merchyk, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.973204, 35.655624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the morning of 11th May 2022 at 10:45 am, a 26yr old civilian tractor driver from Gadyach was allegedly struck with a guided missile launched from a low-flying Russian aircraft whilst working in a field in the village of Novy Merchik. The attack caused multiple burns and leg injuries to the tractor driver and left them hospitalised in a serious condition according to Head of the Kharkiv OVA Oleg Sinegubov.

Witnesses at the scene stated the Russian plane flew at a low altitude when it launched the missile and had come past for a second lap, resulting in Oleksandr Osetrov, director of Nika, the injured worker’s employer to vehemently declare that “we can assume that the enemy clearly saw and understood that they were aiming a missile at civilians, which is unacceptable”.

As a result, Sergei Bolvinov, head of the Investigation Department of the National Police in Kharkiv, specified as a result of this alleged targetted attack, the Bohodukhiv District Police Department of the Kharkiv Regional Police along with prosecutors of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, both of whom had members examine the scene, have launched Criminal proceedings under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (Violation of laws and customs of war). The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the SBU Office in the Kharkiv region.

The State Emergency Service units worked at the scene and extinguished the fire caused by the missile at 12:21.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR57622.

The incident occured at approximately 10:45 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office via Telegram)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office via Telegram)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office via Telegram)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Suspilne News via Telegram)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Suspilne News via Telegram)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by DSNS in Kharkiv region
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Kharkiv City Council
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by the National Police via Facebook)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by the National Police
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Bohodukhiv district state administration
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Hromadske News)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Hromadske News)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Hromadske News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Noviy Merchyk (Новий Мерчик), for which the generic coordinates are: 49.973204, 35.655624. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK172

Incident date

May 3, 2022

Location

смт Золочів, Богодухівський район, Zolochiv, Bohodukhivsʹkyy district, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.274619589848456, 35.97481440340894 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, both men, were reported injured on May 3rd 2022 when Russian forces’ shells allegedly hit Zolochiv in Kharkiv.

Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reported that Russian forces shelled this area “from the temporarily captured Kozacha Lopan” and that 25 residential buildings were damaged. It was the only source that reported that one civilian was injured, whereas all other sources reported that two civilians were injured.

Suspilne Media reported that the shells hit the town at around 2am. The Head of the Community, Victor Kovalenko reported that “two of our residents were injured. The man, born in 1962, has a hip joint injury, and was hospitalized in a regional hospital in a moderate condition. The second man was born in 1939. He has injuries to both legs, the ambulance took him to the regional hospital,” he said. Two people were injured, livestock burned: the consequences of the shelling of the Zolochiv community in Kharkiv region.”

This assessment has reference to UKR57128.

The incident occured at approximately 2:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • "As a result of the shelling, two civilians were injured. 25 residential buildings were damaged." (Image via Prokuratura_Kharkiv / Telegram)
  • "As a result of the shelling, two civilians were injured. 25 residential buildings were damaged." (Image via Prokuratura_Kharkiv / Telegram)
  • "As a result of the shelling, two civilians were injured. 25 residential buildings were damaged." (Image via Prokuratura_Kharkiv / Telegram)
  • "During the day, the occupiers fired 5 artillery shells at Kharkiv. Bohodukhiv, Zolochiv, Mala Danylivka, and Chuhuiv were shelled in the region." (Image via Denisovaliudmyla / Facebook)
  • "During the day, the occupiers fired 5 artillery shells at Kharkiv. Bohodukhiv, Zolochiv, Mala Danylivka, and Chuhuiv were shelled in the region." (Image via Denisovaliudmyla / Facebook)
  • "During the day, the occupiers fired 5 artillery shells at Kharkiv. Bohodukhiv, Zolochiv, Mala Danylivka, and Chuhuiv were shelled in the region." (Image via Denisovaliudmyla / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "Consequences of today's enemy artillery shelling of the village of Zolochiv and the settlements of Udy, Odnorobivka and Kalinov" (Image via Ihor Danylko / Facebook)
  • "As a result of the shelling, two civilians were injured. 25 houses were damaged." (Image via Tipichnoe_xtz / Telegram)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Zolochiv (Золочів), for which the generic coordinates are: 50.274619589848456, 35.97481440340894. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK166

Incident date

May 1, 2022

Location

Одноробівка, Odnorobivka, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.416123, 35.859712 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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 the shelling had damaged a residential house and some property on farmland.

Suspilne News reported that it was specifically the petrol station on an agricultural enterprise which was hit and caught fire as a result of shelling. Photos showed a plume of dark black smoke characteristic of petrol fires. Suspilne News and some other outlets reported that the injured man sustained shrapnel wounds and was 30 years old, but the majority of sources stated 27.

As of 2 May 2022, the Head of the Zolochiv community told Suspilne News that the petrol station continued to burn. The Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that a pre-trial investigation has been opened into the incident.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR56957.

The incident occured at approximately 11:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of Odnorobivka on may 1, 2022. (Image posted by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office)
  • Smoke and fire from petrol station in the village of Odnorobivka, which was hit by a shell on 1 May. (Image posted by Suspilne News)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Liudmila Denisova

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Odnorobivka (Одноробівка), for which the generic coordinates are: 50.416123, 35.859712. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK106

Incident date

April 10, 2022

Location

Золочів, Zolochiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.273048, 35.977971 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians, all middle-aged men, were reported injured after an alleged Russian shelling of Zolochiv, Bohodukhiv district on April 10th, 2022.

According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s office, around 13:00 Zolochiv was shelled with artillery by Russian troops. Viktor Kovalenko, head of the community, told Suspilne TV that “since the morning, Zolochiv has been under fire almost all day, and for the last two and a half hours it has been non-stop.” He recounted that four people sustained shrapnel wounds as a result of the alleged shelling.

According to Kovalenko, all four wounded were middle-aged men, two of whom were “hospitalized in Bogoduckhov; one- wounded in the back, the other- in the abdomen and thigh. Another two had minor wounds to the arms and shoulders.” During the evacuation of the wounded, the hospital was also reportedly shelled.

The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that “a number of buildings, houses and cars were damaged.” In addition, the territory of an enterprise and farm were destroyed, and a gas station was “completely destroyed.”

According to Kovalenko, the explosions were “very powerful” and there were also “cluster attacks,” leading to fires in the industrial zone. He stated that the shelling was the strongest it had been since the beginning of the war.

The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor’s Office have launched an ongoing pre-trial investigation into the violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) over the shelling of Zolochiv.

All sources alleged Russian responsibility for the strike. This incident occurred during the day.

This incident has reference to ACLED’s code UKR55571.

The incident occured at approximately 1:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of Zolochiv on April 10, 2022, (Image posted by Kharkiv Times)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of alleged Russian shelling of Zolochiv on April 10, 2022, (Image posted by Kharkiv Times)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of Zolochiv on April 10, 2022, (Image posted by Kharkiv Times)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of Zolochiv on April 10, 2022, (Image posted by Suspilne News)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of Zolochiv on April 10, 2022, (Image posted by Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office via Facebook)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Larysa Bodareva in Mediyniy Zmiiv

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Zolochiv (Золочів), for which the generic coordinates are: 50.273048, 35.977971. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK059

Incident date

March 15, 2022

Location

Золочів, Zolochiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.273048, 35.977971 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians, including two women and a 19 year old boy, were killed and three others were injured in alleged Russian shelling of the village of Zolochiv on March 15, 2022.

Zolochiv village head Viktor Kovalenko told Suspilne News “Unfortunately, we have five dead – a 70-year-old grandmother, a 34-year-old woman, a 19-year-old boy and two men under the age of 40. The projectile hit the house, and all these people lived in the neighborhood and went out to put out the fire. At that time, it flew to the place where they were standing, and the explosion killed them all. Three more men who were standing nearby were injured. They were given first aid. We will send the two victims, who are in serious condition, to the Bohodukhov hospital.”

The Office of the Prosecutor General announced on Facebook that they would be investigating the civilian deaths based on “violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with intentional murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).”

In addition to damage to a home, Zolochiv village head Viktor told Suspilne News that an agricultural enterprise was damaged and shells hit the gardens in the Makarivka micro-district. The Office of the Prosecutor General added that a number of residential buildings and a car were destroyed and damaged in the shelling.

According to Suspilne News, the town of Zolochiv was shelled by one and a half dozen shells from a Uragan rocket systems from Kozacha Lopan. Gx.net.ua specified that the shelling was from Russian troops.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR53458.

The incident occured at 13:30:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Damage to a home caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Zolochiv on March 15, 2022. (Image posted by Suspilne News)
  • Damage to a home caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Zolochiv on March 15, 2022. (Image posted by Gx.net.ua)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Solonytsivskyy.visnyk
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Office of the Prosecutor General

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Zolochiv (Золочів), for which the generic coordinates are: 50.273048, 35.977971. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]