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
199 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

24 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK144

Location

Малинівка, Malinivka, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On April 24th 2022, reported Russian shelling hit the village of Malinivka, in the Chuhuiv district of Kharkiv, injuring between two and five civilians, including one woman. According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, two men and a woman were injured. However, Nta.ua reported that five people were wounded in Malinovka as announced by the head of…

Summary

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

Incident Date

24 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK143

Location

Золочів, Zolochiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On April 24th 2022 one civilian, a man, was reportedly injured in Zolochiv, Kharkiv, as a result of alleged Russian shelling. The injury reported by local sources was a shrapnel wound to his leg. There is no further information on this incident at this time. This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR56473

Summary

Published
24 April 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

24 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK146

Location

Калинове, Kalynove, Kharkiv, Ukraine
A 60 year old woman was killed by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Kalynove on April 24, 2022. The head of the Zolochiv community, Viktor Kovalenko, told Suspilne News that a 60 year old woman was killed because she did not have time to run to the cellar and came under fire from…

Summary

Published
24 April 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

24 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK145

Location

Чугуїв, Chuhuiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
A 59 year old civilian was killed and three other civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured by alleged Russian shelling of Chuhuiv on April 24, 2022. Volodymyr Tymoshko, head of the Main Department of the National Police of the Kharkiv region, announced on Facebook that Russian shelling of Chuhuiv resulted in the…

Summary

Published
24 April 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
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

23 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK139

Location

Слатине, Slatyne, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Two male civilians were killed in the village of Slatyno, Kharkiv Region by shelling in an attack suspected to have been carried out by Russian service personnel on a residential building in the early afternoon. Images shared online by the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency show a single story house to have been collapsed and destroyed…

Summary

Published
23 April 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

23 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK140

Location

Cалтівка, Saltivka, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On the afternoon of April 23, there were reports of shelling by Russian forces in Kharkiv. This took place in Saltivka, an area within the city’s North Eastern Kyivskiy district, and reportedly resulted in four civilian injuries, including an elderly woman and those trying to rescue her, classifying this incident as a double tap strike.…

Summary

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