Devastation and frozen frontlines: Ukraine marks four years of Russia’s war

Ukraine marked four years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion with ceremonies of mourning, defiance, and renewed appeals for international support, as fighting continues along largely frozen frontlines stretching hundreds of kilometers across the east and south of the country. What began in February 2022 as a rapid assault intended to subdue Kyiv has evolved into a grinding war of attrition that has reshaped Europe’s security order and left deep scars on Ukrainian society.
In the capital and major cities, moments of silence were held for soldiers and civilians killed in the conflict. Churches rang bells, and families gathered at makeshift memorials adorned with flags and photographs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the anniversary was not only a day of grief but also of resolve. “We remember everyone who gave their life for our freedom,” he said in a televised address. “And we continue to fight so that this sacrifice was not in vain.”
The war’s physical devastation is visible across much of the country. Entire towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions have been reduced to rubble after months of artillery duels. Critical infrastructure, including power plants and water systems, has been repeatedly targeted, forcing millions to endure blackouts during harsh winters. According to Ukrainian officials, tens of thousands of residential buildings have been destroyed or severely damaged, and millions of people remain displaced inside the country or abroad.
Despite heavy losses on both sides, the frontlines have moved little over the past year. Ukrainian forces have focused on defending key positions while launching limited counteroffensives aimed at disrupting Russian supply lines. Russia, under President Vladimir Putin, has poured additional troops and resources into the war, framing it domestically as a struggle against Western influence and NATO expansion.
Military analysts describe the conflict as increasingly defined by trench warfare, drone strikes, and long-range missile attacks rather than sweeping territorial advances. The stalemate has heightened concerns about the sustainability of Ukraine’s defense effort, especially as Western aid has faced political delays and debate. European and U.S. officials reiterated their support this week, but privately acknowledged that Ukraine’s battlefield success depends heavily on continued supplies of ammunition, air defenses, and financial assistance.
For ordinary Ukrainians, the anniversary underscored the emotional toll of prolonged war. In Kharkiv, close to the Russian border, residents spoke of exhaustion mixed with stubborn determination. “We have learned how to live with sirens and explosions,” said Olena, a schoolteacher whose apartment was damaged in a recent strike. “But what hurts most is not knowing when this will end.”
International reactions reflected both solidarity and anxiety. Leaders from several European nations issued statements praising Ukraine’s resilience and condemning Russia’s aggression. At the United Nations, diplomats warned that the conflict’s ripple effects—from energy prices to food insecurity—continue to impact countries far beyond Eastern Europe. Human rights groups renewed calls for accountability, pointing to evidence of war crimes and the forced displacement of civilians.
Four years on, the war has become a defining feature of a new geopolitical era marked by renewed great-power rivalry and the rearmament of Europe. Finland and Sweden have joined NATO, defense budgets have surged, and alliances have hardened along ideological lines. Yet on the ground in Ukraine, the struggle remains intensely personal: a daily fight for survival, sovereignty, and the hope of peace.
As Ukraine marked the somber milestone, Zelenskyy emphasized that the nation’s future still rests on unity and endurance. “We did not choose this war,” he said, “but we choose to stand. And as long as we stand together, Ukraine will live.”
The frozen frontlines may signal a pause in major territorial shifts, but the human cost continues to rise. For Ukrainians, the fourth anniversary was not an end point but another chapter in a war whose outcome will shape their country—and Europe—for generations to come.