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

17 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK127

Location

Довжик, Dovzhyk, Kharkiv, Ukraine
A woman was killed by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Dovzhyk April 17, 2022. Suspilne News reported that according to the head of the community Viktor Kovalenko, a woman was killed when a Russian shell struck the village of Dovzhyk in the Zolochiv community. Kovalenko stated that the woman is over 50 years old and…

Summary

Published
17 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

17 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK128

Location

центр Харкова, Київський та Шевченківський райони міста, the center of Kharkiv, Kyivsyy and Shevchenkivskyy districts of the city, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On the afternoon of April 17th 2022, Russia allegedly fired artillery in the city center of Kharkiv, killing at least five civilians and injuring at least 10 civilians, including a woman. Despite the preliminary estimates, most reports set the number of civilian deaths at 5 and of injured at 13, while others reported up to…

Summary

Published
17 April 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
10–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK126

Location

Ocновянський, Osnovianskyi, Kharkiv, Ukraine
One civilian was killed and two others were injured by alleged Russian shelling of Kharkiv the evening of April 16, 2022. Reports of the incident mention that the incident took place in the district of Osnovianskyi. A tweet from BBC News Ukraine (@BBC_ua) reported that Russian troops shelled Kharkiv for the second time in a…

Summary

Published
16 April 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
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

16 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK124

Location

Нововодолазька, Nova Vodolaga, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Three demining employees were killed and four other employees were injured - all men - by the explosion of munitions, including cluster munitions, near Nova Vodolaga in Kharkiv on April 16, 2022. The Novovodolazka council announced on Facebook that three employees of the Interregional Center for Humanitarian Demining and Rapid Response of the State Emergency…

Summary

Published
16 April 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK123

Location

Ізюмський район, Izium district, Kharkiv, Ukraine
An elderly woman was killed and another woman was injured by an alleged Russian attack against a vehicle in Izium district, Kharkiv on April 16, 2022. A Facebook post from Sergiy Bolvinov, who works for the Investigative Department of State Police in Kharkiv region, reported that while a family was trying to evacuate, Russian forces fired…

Summary

Published
16 April 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery, Ground operation
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 April 2022

Incident Code

RUK125

Location

Ocновянський, Osnovianskyi , Kharkiv, Ukraine
On 16th April 2022, at 11:45 am, the Russian army allegedly launched Kalibr long-range cruise missiles at the Kharkiv region, hitting the districts of Sloboda and Osnovianskyi. Maksym Khoustov, director of the regional Department of Health, reported 18 injured.  Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, confirmed that the 18 wounded were being…

Summary

Published
16 April 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Commerce (Market)
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
18–30
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident