30 days of war: results of Russian invasion of Ukraine
Summary of the month-long Russian invasion
On February 24th, Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 8 years after annexing Crimea, occupying Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and creating proxy-states there.
It’s been 30 days since Ukrainians united to withstand the aggression. Long 30 days of endless destruction, war crimes, inhumane atrocities — clashing with unity, heroism, and fight for freedom.
We have gathered a summary, showcasing the impact of Russian aggression on military and civilians, infrastructure and economy, officials and volunteers.
Only 1 city regional center captured (temporarily)
Despite most military analysts saying Kyiv will be captured in 2-3 days, the vast majority of Ukrainian regional centers withstand invasion. Kharkiv and Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia and Odesa, Chernihiv and Sumy — under control of Ukrainian Armed Forces.
In the first days of March, Russian troops entered Kherson, seizing the Regional Administration building and infiltrating the city. However, three weeks later, it was Kherson that demonstrated that it would be extremely difficult for the Kremlin to establish an occupation regime even in the occupied Ukrainian territories (also proven by captured Berdiansk and Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia region).
During this time in Kherson:
Сity and regional authorities refused to cooperate with the occupiers (Kherson deputies never recognize attempts to create a "people's republic" in the Kherson region and seize part of Ukraine;
Russian attempts to organize demonstrations in support of the occupation failed;
Locals are constantly protesting against Russian occupation;
Demonstrations under Ukrainian flags continue despite attempts by Rosguard forces to establish an administrative-police regime in Kherson and hold mass detentions of local residents (as of March 9 alone, 400 detained Ukrainian citizens were known);
On March 21, unarmed participants of an anti-Russian rally were wounded for the first time in Kherson: occupiers opened fire and threw grenades at the crowd.
In Berdiansk:
Russians captured local radio station, playing soviet songs, spreading disinformation and propaganda. The same is done in occupied Melitopol
Occupiers spreading propaganda leaflets, blaming Ukrainian Forces for all damage done.
Local deputies are falsely accused of helping AZOV Battalion, Russians create fake criminal prosecutions to justify kidnapping.
Just today, a large Russian landing ship was eliminated.
In Enerhodar:
Occupiers kidnapped deputy mayor, Ivan Samoidyuk.
Thousands of citizens protesting against Russian occupation, demanding freedom for the deputy.
Most of the deputies left their positions to prevent any collaboration. Only few deputies from pro-Russian “ОПЗЖ” party are left.
6 more cities showcasing heroic resistance
Mariupol, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, Hostomel (Kyiv region), Volnovakha (Donetsk region) — are awarded titles of “hero cities”, for fiercely withstanding enormous damage done by Russian invasion. Some of the cities are “on the verge of survival”.
2nd most powerful army in the world?
Ukrainian Armed forces, empowered by National Police and Territorial Defence units in cities, are showcasing unprecedented military success, leaving the world in awe and Russia in panic.
Total losses of Russian forces (24.02 - 24.03), according to AFU General Staff:
108 Aircraft
124 Helicopters
530 tanks
1597 APVs
280 artillery systems
74 MLRS units
44 anti-aircraft defense systems
947 vehicles
60 fuel tanks
21 UAVs
12 units of special equipment
5 sea vessels
human casualties:
~64.200 total
~15.800 killed
~47.400 wounded
~1.000 prisoners of war
According to First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pentagon says that Ukrainian army has set a record for the effectiveness of the use of Javelin portable anti-tank systems. Out of 112 shots, 100 hit the target.
Ukrainian Armed forces are currently conducting counterattacks, liberating cities in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv regions.
Russians are currently encircled in Irpin, Hostomel, and Bucha;
Almost 1,500 airstrikes and 500 missile strikes in Ukrainian cities
Failing a blitzkrieg to quickly capture Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities, the Russian army has resorted to the most brutal tactics in Ukraine this month: destroying Ukrainian cities without direct contact with the Ukrainian Armed Forces through rocket fire, airstrikes, and aerial bombardment.
According to the AFU General Staff report, published on March 19 (the 24th day of the invasion), during these weeks Russia:
inflicted 291 missile strikes on objects in Ukraine,
used 459 surface-to-sea, naval and air-based missiles
conducted 1403 air raids.
Ukrainian losses
The exact number of military losses is unknown. The last official information was reported by Volodymyr Zelenskyi on March 12. As of the date, the number of dead Ukrainian servicemen amounted to 1,300 people.
1,035 people dead and 1,650 injured among civilian population according to the data of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, 128 children were killed and more than 172 were injured during the month of war in Ukraine.
It is obvious that the number of deaths is many times higher, considering that the losses among Mariupol residents according to various estimates vary from 2358 deaths (as stated by Mariupol deputy mayor Serhii Orlov) to over 3,000 (as commented by the Azov Batallion Commander, Denys Prokopenko, for CNN on March 21).
6.5 million Ukrainians became internally displaced persons, according to IOM. The number of refugees from Ukraine is approaching 3.7 million (UNHCR). Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova reported, that the Russian Federation has forcibly deported 402,000 Ukrainian citizens, 84,000 of which are children.
565 billion dollars – this is how the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy estimates direct losses from the war, states Deputy Economy Minister Kudin (data as of March 12). The largest share of these losses constitutes infrastructure – 119 billion.
About 3,780 residential buildings are partially damaged, 651 buildings are completely destroyed. - Deputy Chairman of the State Emergency Service Roman Primush.
566 educational institutions are damaged, 73 destroyed completely. Among them, there are more than 230 schools and 155 kindergartens. In addition, more than 40 institutions for children were destroyed, including medical establishments, art schools, sports facilities, and libraries. - General Prosecutor’s Office.
139 hospitals were shelled, 10 of them destroyed completely, reports Health Minister Viktor Liashko.
The unspeakable tragedy of Mariupol
Mariupol is a Ukrainian city under siege, which is subjected to regular enemy shelling and is suffering a humanitarian disaster.
"80-90% of the city is bombed. There is not a building without damage. Everything is either destroyed completely or damaged ", said Mariupol Deputy Mayor Serhii Orlov in an interview with Forbes on March 16.
According to his information, between 350,000 and 400,000 people remained in Mariupol at the time of the blockade. As of March 23, between 150,000 and 200,000 residents remain in the city.
For more than 20 days, the city has been completely without access to utilities: light, electricity, heating, garbage disposal.
Eight days ago, the official number of human casualties was 2,358. But, according to Orlov, 100 to 200 civilians continue to die every day in Mariupol. Azov regiment commander Major Denys Prokopenko named the figure of 3,000 dead in his commentary to CNN on March 21.
It was in Mariupol that Russia's most outrageous war crimes took place: shelling of the Drama Theater, the swimming pool, and the art school – buildings, which served as shelters for people left homeless. The maternity hospital, to which Sergey Lavrov later referred to as the Azov base, was shelled in Mariupol, too.
2.2 billion UAH of donations for the Armed Forces through a single fund.
In the first three weeks of the war alone, Ukrainians transferred UAH 2,291.3 million (excluding cryptocurrency and cash transfers) to the accounts of the “Come Back Alive”, Ukraine's largest military aid fund.
This amount was announced on March 21 by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
"These figures are impressive. And they are the most eloquent illustration of the nation's unity with its army, "he added. For comparison, the amount collected by Ukrainians to support the Armed Forces is comparable to the number of expenditures that were included in the state budget of Ukraine for vaccination against COVID-19 in 2022 (UAH 2.6 billion)”.
Thanks to the unity of Ukrainians, “Come Back Alive” Foundation have already handed over ten thousand necessary devices to Ukrainian defenders, including:
7,954 means of communication of various types,
2,546 helmets,
1,293 units of thermal imaging, night and other optics,
1,312 bulletproof vests
573 drones.
While Russia is harming dozens of millions for the sake of “liberation”, Ukrainian people are standing for Western values.
We fight propaganda with Truth. We fight chauvinism with Justice. We fight oppression with Freedom. We fight death with Life. We fight ignorance with Education. We fight to have our constitutional Human rights.
We protect the fundamental values of the West. Now it’s time for the West to protect innocent and peaceful population of Ukraine.
Remember: when Russia stops fighting — there will be no war. When Ukraine stops fighting — there will be no Ukraine.