Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, initiating the largest land war in Europe since World War II. First announced by Vladimir Putin as a "special military operation", Russian forces attacked from multiple directions, including Belarus.
The conflict in its fourth year as of February 2026, has become a long, grinding war of attrition, with significant casualties and humanitarian crises, Independent estimates of casualties indicate more than 200,000 Russian troops have died, with total Russian casualties potentially reaching over 1 million. Civilian casualties remain high, with 2025 being a particularly deadly year. Russia still roughly 20% of Ukraine. The conflict has shifted to a war of attrition with heavy, slow, and costly Russian advances, notably in the Donbas region. The war has caused massive displacement, with millions of refugees fleeing Ukraine. Western nations, led by the US and EU, have provided hundreds of billions in aid to Ukraine although US support has been characterized by some, as sporadic since 2025. As of early 2026, the war continues with no immediate resolution in sight.
