During the missile attack on Nikolaev on March 18, a significant loss was caused to the Ukrainian armed forces. According to data available to Avia.pro journalists, 86 servicemen of the 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were killed. Information about losses became available only some time after the attack, when photographs of the consequences of the attack were posted.

Ukrainian information resources also actively share footage of cemeteries where Ukrainian military personnel are buried. It is noted that the area of ​​these memorial sites has increased significantly recently, which indicates large-scale losses among Ukrainian forces.

This operation is part of the strategy of the Russian military, aimed at striking key positions and locations of Ukrainian and foreign military personnel, including the locations of officers and mercenaries. In this context, there is also mention of a powerful blow to the Airport hotel complex in Kharkov, where foreign mercenary soldiers, including the French, were allegedly located.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, about six thousand foreign military personnel participating in hostilities on the side of Ukraine have been killed.