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

4 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK174

Location

Старий Салтів, Staryi Saltiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Four civilians, including a child, were killed and two injured, a woman and her six month old daughter, in an alleged Russian military personnel attack near Staryi Saltiv on a 15 vehicle convoy which had been evacuating the then Russian occupied city of Vovchansk on May 4, 2022. Investigators arrived at the scene two days…

Summary

Published
4 May 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Humanitarian (Evacuation Route)
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK176

Location

Лозівський район, Lozivsʹkyy district, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On May 4th 2022, an 11 year-old boy was injured as a result of alleged Russian shelling in the Lozova district of Kharkiv. The Head of Kharkiv Oblast Oleg Sinegubov commented on Facebook: “Today, as a result of enemy shelling, an 11-year-old child was injured in the Loziv district”. According to Suspilne News, the boy…

Summary

Published
4 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

4 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK175

Location

Балаклі́я, Balakleya, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On May 4th 2022, Kharkhiv Human Rights Protection group reported that Russian shelling of the town of Balakeya near Kharkiv resulted in one man dying. Suspilne quoted Oleg Sineguboy, the head of the Kharkhiv Regional Military administration who added that the “the deceased is from the village of Zalyman between the temporarily occupied Balaklia and…

Summary

Published
4 May 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

3 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK173

Location

Динамо, Dynamo Stadium, Kharkiv, Ukraine
A civilian died as a result of a factory fire in the same series of shelling attacks allegedly by Russian military personnel that injured a 43 year old woman and 46 year old man in Kharkiv. The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reported that several buildings had been damaged in the shelling, including part of…

Summary

Published
3 May 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

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

3 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK172

Location

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

Summary

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