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

2 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK169

Location

Барвінкове, Barvinkove, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On May 2nd 2022, two male civilians were injured after a reported Russian forces artillery shelling hit Barvinkove in Kharkiv. The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office reported that "residential buildings and two administrative buildings were damaged" in addition to wounding two men. There is no further information available at this stage. This assessment has reference to ACLED…

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

2 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK170

Location

Руська Лозова, Ruska Lozova, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On May 2 2022, a convoy of vehicles engaged in the evacuation of Ruska Lozova was reportedly hit by mortar fire allegedly directed by Russian forces. According to local media, two cars were damaged and one civilian was injured. In a post published on Facebook, Vyacheslav Zadorenko, mayor of the neighboring town Derhachi, described the…

Summary

Published
2 May 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Humanitarian (Evacuation Route)
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK167

Location

Уди, Udy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On 1st May 2022, at 11:30 am, the Russian armed forces reportedly shelled villages including Udy in the Bohodukhiv district of the Kharkiv region. Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reported that the artillery shelling hit amongst other infrastructure a car, killing one women immediately and wounding the two other passengers, a man and another woman.…

Summary

Published
1 May 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
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

1 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK168

Location

Золочів, Zolochiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On May 1st, 2022 at 6 pm, the Russian Federation army allegedly shelled the village of Zolochiv in the Bohodukhiv district of the Kharkiv region, killing one male civilian and damaging buildings in the village. The head of the village, Viktor Kovalenko, was quoted in reports by Cezke Novy news, Suspilne, Varta and Ukrainska Prada,…

Summary

Published
1 May 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Religious
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK166

Location

Одноробівка, Odnorobivka, Kharkiv, Ukraine
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…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 May 2022

Incident Code

RUK165

Location

Дергачівська громада, Derhachivska community, Kharkiv, Ukraine
On the morning of 1 May 2022, following a sustained period of shelling across the Kharkiv region, one person was injured in alleged Russian shelling on the Derhachivska community. Oleg Sinegubov, head of the Kharkiv OVA, reported on the "one casualty" in the Derhachivska community and warned residents via a Telegram post that they should not…

Summary

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