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

28 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK086

Location

Люботин, Liubotyn, Kharkiv, Ukraine
A man was killed and up to seven others, including two women, were injured in their homes by alleged Russian shelling and/or airstrikes on the town of Liubotyn on March 28, 2022. Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union reported that during a shelling of the town of Liubotyn one person was killed, seven others were injured,…

Summary

Published
28 March 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK085

Location

Національний аерокосмічний університет, National Aerospace University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
A man was injured while walking around the National Aerospace University in Kharkiv on March 28, 2022. Khai news posted on Telegram that during a shelling of the National Aerospace University, the arena building and DMS-3 were damaged (glass was damaged in some rooms) and a man who was walking near the buildings was injured.…

Summary

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

Incident Date

27 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK084

Location

на автодорозі між с. Шевелівка та с. Гусарівка, Highway between Shevelivka and Husarivka, Kharkiv, Ukraine
A family of three civilians, a woman, a man, and a 3-year-old child, were reported killed on March 27th, 2022 in the Izyum district of Kharkiv as the result of an alleged Russian shelling. The press service of the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office reported via Telegram that the family was found dead in a Honda…

Summary

Published
27 March 2022
Strike Type
Ground operation, Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK083

Location

с. Оскіл, Ізюмський район, Oskil, Izium, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Seven civilians including two minors were reported killed and five, including a 4-year-old child, were reported injured after alleged Russian shelling of the village of Oskil of the Izyum district in Kharkiv on March 27th, 2022. A family of four, including a seven-year-old boy, were among those killed, after a rocket “hit one of the…

Summary

Published
27 March 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
7
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK082

Location

Барвінкове, Barvinkove, Kharkiv, Ukraine
At approximately 11am on March 26th 2022, Russian forces reportedly shelled the town of Barvinkove in the Izyum district of Kharkiv, resulting in the deaths of at least four Ukrainian soldiers and one civilian, as well as causing a fire in a secondary school. Multiple Ukrainian news sources, and a number of posts on Telegram…

Summary

Published
26 March 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
1
Military actors reported killed
4–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 March 2022

Incident Code

RUK080

Location

Міська лікарня №1, City Hospital No.1, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On March 25th 2022 at approximately 7:45am, Russian forces reportedly shelled the Osnovyansk district of Kharkiv, Ukraine, killing between four and five civilians and injuring three more. The shelling involved artillery fire on residential buildings and a city clinic dispensing humanitarian aid, with some sources referring to it as medical aid, damaging civilian’s houses and…

Summary

Published
25 March 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Humanitarian
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident