February 21, 2025

Russian Ministry of Defense:  up to 9,205 Ukrainian casualties from Feb 15 to 21

Russian Defense Ministry

▫️ From 15 to 21 February, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 11 group strikes by long-range air-, ground-, and sea-based high-precision weapons, and by unmanned aerial vehicles, which hit the facilities of the gas-power and port infrastructure, as well as electrical substations that support the work of the Ukrainian defence industry.

In addition, strikes were delivered at missile and artillery depots, military airfield infrastructure, assembly workshops, depots storing attack unmanned aerial vehicles, temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries.

▫️ During the week, the Sever Group of Forces continued to rout AFU units in Kursk region.

In the course of the offensive actions, Sverdlikovo (Kursk region) was liberated.

Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and artillery inflicted fire on manpower and hardware of two tank brigades, one heavy mechanised brigade, three air assault brigades, three assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, and one territorial defence brigade.

In Kharkov direction, units of one motorised infantry brigade, one assault brigade of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, and one National Guard brigade were hit.

During the week, more than 2,255 troops, 11 tanks, and 137 armoured fighting vehicles of the enemy have been neutralised in the area of responsibility of the Sever Group of Forces. Moreover, 166 motor vehicles, 36 field artillery guns, three MLRS fighting vehicles, three electronic warfare stations, and five ammunition depots were neutralised.

▫️ The Zapad Group’s units liberated Figolevka (Kharkov region) and Yampolovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The Group inflicted fire damage on one tank brigade, four mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, one mountain assault brigade, and one assault brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades.

The enemy lost more than 1,315 troops and 15 armoured fighting vehicles, including eight U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers. Thirty-nine motor vehicles, 36 field artillery guns, with 16 of them manufactured by NATO countries, ten electronic warfare stations, and 11 ammunition depots were neutralised.

▫️ The Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical position. Russian troops hit four mechanised brigades, one infantry brigade, one mountain assault brigade, one assault brigade, one airmobile brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades.

During the week, the AFU lost up to 1,365 troops, 12 armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, 18 motor vehicles, and 19 field artillery guns, including five Western-made artillery guns. Four electronic warfare stations and seven field ammunition depots were neutralised.

The Tsentr Group of Forces units continued to advance to the depths of the enemy’s defence, and liberated Berezovka and Nadezhdinka (Donetsk People’s Republic). 

The units of five mechanised brigades, two jaeger brigades, one airmobile brigade, two motorised infantry brigades, one assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two territorial defence brigades, and two national guard brigades were hit.

The Ukrainian troops lost more than 2,740 troops, 12 tanks, including the German-made Leopard tank, 28 armoured fighting vehicles, including six U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers. Moreover, 42 motor vehicles and 40 field artillery guns were eliminated, including three Western-made guns.

▫️ The Vostok Group of Forces units continued to advance to the depths of the enemy’s defence and liberated Novoselka and Novoocheretovatoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).

One tank brigade, four mechanised brigades, one air assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, and two territorial defence brigades were hit.

The enemy lost more than 1,100 troops, six tanks, including two German-made Leopard tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 23 motor vehicles, and 29 field artillery guns, three of which were manufactured by NATO countries. Two ammunition depots were destroyed.

▫️ The Dnepr Group of Forces units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one mountain assault brigade, three coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades.

The AFU lost more than 460 troops, 43 motor vehicles, and seven field artillery guns. Ten electronic warfare stations and counter-battery radar, as well as four ammunition depots, were neutralised.

▫️ Over the past week, Russia’s air defence systems have shot down two Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft, two JDAM guided aerial bombs, and 36 HIMARS projectiles produced by the United States, 17 Hammer guided aerial bombs produced by France, one Uragan MLRS projectile, one Neptune anti-ship missile converted to engage ground targets, as well as 790 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

Over the past week, 58 Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered on the line of contact.

▫️ In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 655 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 44,132 unmanned aerial vehicles, 596 anti-aircraft missile systems, 21,688 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,521 MLRS combat vehicles, 21,926 field artillery guns and mortars, and 32,005 units of support military vehicles of the enemy have been neutralised.

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Wilson Center

Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!

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International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.

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