Feb. 24, 2022 opened with missile explosions in Kyiv before Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” on Russian television.
Putin said the action had three aims: protecting people in Donbas from what he called genocide, demilitarizing Ukraine and “denazifying” it.
He also urged Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms and go home, framing the move as directed at Ukraine’s military rather than its people.
Putin promised those responsible for crimes against civilians would be brought to justice and said Russia had no plans to occupy Ukrainian territory.
That declaration marked the start of what the report describes as Europe’s longest and bloodiest war of the 21st century.
After four years of brutal conflict, what does a realistic victory now look like for either Ukraine or Russia?
With US aid halted, can Ukraine's sovereignty survive a peace deal negotiated by Russia and America?
Has the rise of cheap drone warfare made conventional military superpowers obsolete in modern conflicts?
Ukraine War 2026: Stalemate, Sanctions, and Shifting Global Power—A Comprehensive Analysis of the Human, Economic, and Geopolitical Toll
Overview
As of May 2026, Russia’s main goals in its war against Ukraine remain unchanged, with President Putin insisting on Ukraine’s withdrawal from four regions Russia claims to have annexed. Kyiv has firmly rejected these demands, exposing a clear contradiction between Russia’s calls for peace and its ongoing territorial ambitions. To strengthen its hold, Russia is working to normalize control over occupied areas by creating parallel state structures, complete with its own symbols, laws, and media. These actions show that, despite talk of negotiations, Russia is focused on consolidating its occupation and reshaping realities on the ground.