How Ukraine Managed to Stand Firm Amidst Severe Losses and Brutal Attacks, and What Price Was Paid for It

The war has been going on for more than two and a half years. During this time, Ukraine has won many victories, but has also suffered serious losses. The enemy not only tried to seize Ukrainian territories, but also destroyed everything alive with missile and drone strikes on infrastructure and civilians. Despite constant fighting, lack of weapons and mass attacks on civilians, Ukraine continues to defend its independence.

The Beginning of the Invasion and the Defense of Kyiv

In the early months of the full-scale invasion, russian forces advanced into nine Ukrainian regions, almost completely occupying four of them. The enemy laid siege to Sumy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and captured Kherson and Mariupol. However, thanks to a flexible defense strategy, Ukrainian forces managed to halt the invaders. In April 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) launched a rapid counterattack, forcing the enemy to retreat from Kyiv and northern Ukraine, marking a turning point in the war.

Key Ukrainian Victories

On April 14, 2022, the russian cruiser "Moskva", the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, was sunk, demonstrating Ukraine's ability not only to defend itself but also to strike back against aggression. Ukrainian forces liberated Snake Island and conducted a successful Kharkiv offensive in August-September 2022, driving the enemy out of the region. Kherson was liberated in November 2022.

Attacks on Energy Infrastructure and the 2023 Counteroffensive 

In the fall of 2022, the russians launched massive attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, causing rolling blackouts. However, the AFU continued to plan a counteroffensive. Over three months in the summer of 2023, Ukrainian forces liberated 248.8 square kilometers of territory, reclaiming seven settlements in the Donetsk and five in the Zaporizhzhia regions.

Battles for Bakhmut and Avdiivka

The russians concentrated their efforts on the complete occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The battles for Bakhmut and Avdiivka were among the bloodiest. After months of resistance, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Avdiivka, but the enemy still failed to achieve its primary goal — full control over Donbas.

Victories at Sea and in the Air

Ukrainian forces carried out over 20 strikes on russian airfields, damaging russian military aircraft. Due to drone attacks, the russian fleet retreated from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk. In the last four months alone, the AFU destroyed 20% of the russian Black Sea Fleet.

The Worst Attacks on Civilians

russia has turned all of Ukraine into a battlefield, striking civilian targets. Since the war began, russians have launched over 8,000 missiles of all types, but many have been intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses.

Liberated and Occupied Territories of Ukraine

At the beginning of summer 2022, the russian army controlled about 125,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, roughly 20% of the country’s total area. As of February 2024, 26% of the territory remains under occupation, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to the AFU StratCom, approximately 39,000 square kilometers of territory have been liberated since the full-scale invasion began. Parts of five regions remain partially occupied: Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Kharkiv.

Damages and International Aid

Ukraine's direct losses from the war have exceeded $63 billion, while total economic losses amount to over $600 billion. Environmental damage is estimated at a minimum of $57 billion. Over the past two years, international partners have provided Ukraine with approximately $300 billion in aid, including the latest $50 billion package from the EU.

Population Migration

According to the UN, over 14 million people have fled Ukraine during the two years of war, with 6.5 million becoming refugees abroad. About 3.7 million people are internally displaced, while over 4.5 million have returned home.

Civilian Casualties

The UN Monitoring Mission reported that 10,582 civilians have died, and 19,875 have been injured over the two years of war. The actual figures could be higher due to the lack of access to occupied territories. Human Rights Watch estimates the number of civilian deaths in Mariupol to be at least 8,000.

Abduction of Ukrainian Children

Since 2022, russians have forcibly relocated thousands of Ukrainian children to areas under their control, granting them russian citizenship and placing them with russian families. According to the "Children of War" portal, the deportation or forced relocation of 19,500 children has been confirmed, though the actual number could be significantly higher. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for putin for the "illegal deportation" of Ukrainian children.

Losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Enemy

Official data on the losses among Ukrainian forces remain classified, but according to US officials, they could amount to around 70,000 dead and 100-120,000 wounded. The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, called these figures exaggerated, while President Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian losses are at least five times smaller than those of the russians.

Over the past two years, Ukraine has proven capable of fighting against a superior enemy and defending its independence. It has demonstrated the strength and resilience of its people to the world, forcing the enemy to adopt less ambitious plans. Despite severe losses and brutal attacks, Ukraine has not only endured but has also strengthened, preparing for new counteroffensives and striving to reclaim its territories. The coming months will be decisive, and this struggle will serve as an example of resilience and courage for the entire world.