Russia–Ukraine War
Large-scale conventional war following Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion. Front lines stretch across Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts. Heavy use of drones, missiles, and artillery. The largest European land war since 1945.
Open on the interactive globe → Wikipedia ↗
Belligerents
- Russian Federation
- Ukraine
- NATO support
Casualties
500,000+ casualties
Key events
- Feb 2022 — Full invasion
- Sept 2022 — Kharkiv counter-offensive
- Nov 2022 — Kherson liberated
- 2023 — Counter-offensive stalls
- 2024 — Avdiivka falls; Kursk incursion
- 2025 — Attritional stalemate
Aftermath
Ongoing as of 2026. Already: Sweden + Finland joined NATO; Germany rearmed (€100B Zeitenwende fund); EU sanctions froze ~$300B Russian reserves; Russia's gas leverage over Europe broken; energy markets reshuffled (US LNG to Europe). Drone-saturated battlefield will define warfare for decades.
Weapons & matériel
- HIMARS / MLRS (Ukrainian deep strike)
- Javelins, NLAWs (anti-armour)
- Bayraktar TB2 (early phase)
- FPV drones (10K+/month, defining weapon)
- Russian Iskander, Kalibr, hypersonic Kinzhal
- Iranian Shahed-136 loitering munitions
- Storm Shadow / SCALP cruise missiles
- Patriot, IRIS-T, NASAMS air defence
Technology
First true drone war: FPVs, loitering munitions, naval drones (USVs sank Russian Black Sea ships); Starlink as battlefield comms; AI-assisted targeting
Economy
Ukraine GDP fell 29% in 2022; Russia GDP fell ~2% but pivoted to war economy. Global grain/fertilizer/energy shocks
Cost
Western aid to Ukraine: ~$300B+ committed (US ~$175B, EU ~$120B). Russia: ~$200B/year war spend, ~9% of GDP
Sources
- ISW daily reports
- RUSI analyses
- Oryx (visually confirmed losses)
- UN OHCHR