This February 24th marks four years since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the largest armed conflict in Europe since 1945.
What the Kremlin presented as a "special military operation" to quickly subdue Kiev has turned into a prolonged war of attrition that has redefined the security of the continent, caused millions to be displaced, and left thousands of civilian casualties.
In this context, the Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, reiterated the figures regarding the cost that, according to Kiev, Russia is paying on the battlefield.
Ukraine is killing between 30,000 and 35,000 Russians per month since last December. We see a net loss of 8,000 to 10,000 troops per month in the Russian army. It costs them 157 soldiers' lives for every kilometer gained,” stated in remarks published by Clash Report.
The leader had already presented similar figures on December 16, 2025, during a speech before the Parliament of the Netherlands. "Putin doesn’t believe in people. He only believes in power and money. He loses the lives of about 30,000 soldiers on the front each month. 30,000 dead a month, not including the wounded. There was one month when 25,000 Russians died. In another month, 31,000," he stated at that time.
According to Zelenski, although Russia mobilizes up to 44,000 soldiers monthly to sustain its war effort, the current balance reflects a net loss of between 8,000 and 10,000 Russian military personnel each month in Ukrainian territory. If confirmed, these figures would indicate not only a high level of lethality at the front but also a structural wear on Russian operational capability.
Although this data cannot be independently verified in real time and is part of the official narrative from Kyiv, it aligns with assessments from analytical centers that describe the conflict as a high-intensity war of attrition, with limited territorial gains and enormous human costs.
Recent advances and dynamics of the front
Zelensky also stated that Ukraine has regained approximately 300 square kilometers since the beginning of 2026.
The data contrasts with 2024, when Kyiv lost about 4,200 square kilometers over the course of the year, suggesting a shift in the dynamics of certain sectors of the front.
Recent reports from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and other specialized centers indicate that Ukrainian forces have made specific tactical advances by exploiting vulnerabilities in Russian communications and the chain of command.
Problems with coordination systems, including issues related to access to technologies such as Starlink on the battlefield, have temporarily reduced Russian responsiveness in certain areas.
It is not a decisive strategic turn, but rather movements that reflect the adaptability of the Ukrainian army after four years of war. In a conflict where every kilometer is contested with artillery, drones, and infantry assaults, small breakthroughs can translate into significant gains.
Russia, for its part, maintains a strategy of constant pressure through drone attacks and long-range missile strikes against energy infrastructures and urban targets.
These offensives, particularly intense during the winter, have caused power outages and damage to critical facilities, impacting millions of civilians and generating new accusations of indiscriminate attacks.
Four years of reports on war crimes
From the first months of the invasion, international organizations and human rights groups documented alleged extrajudicial executions, torture, indiscriminate bombings, and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
The city of Bucha became a symbol of these allegations following the discovery of dead civilians on its streets after the withdrawal of Russian troops in the spring of 2022. Mariupol, virtually devastated after a brutal siege, and Kharkiv, subjected to repeated bombings, are among the most frequently cited cases in investigations of potential war crimes.
Moscow has systematically denied these accusations. However, investigations remain open at international levels, while Ukraine insists that those responsible must be held accountable.
The pattern of attacks against energy infrastructure and residential areas has been one of the most controversial aspects of the conflict. Kiev argues that these actions aim to undermine civilian resistance through wear and terror, rather than to gain direct military advantages.
Intelligence, technology, and negotiation
In his most recent statements, Zelenski also discussed cooperation with the United States in the area of intelligence. He emphasized that Washington continues to provide vital information, particularly alerts regarding missile attacks, ballistic missiles, and drones.
However, he acknowledged that Ukraine does not always receive everything it requests, particularly concerning long-range targets.
The president made it clear that he does not hold Washington responsible for these limitations and reminded that Ukraine now has domestic production capabilities for longer-range weapons, something it did not have at the beginning of the conflict.
In diplomatic terms, Zelenski revealed that American and Russian interlocutors have suggested that a quick end to the war would involve Ukraine withdrawing from Donbas. The leader reiterated that territorial integrity is non-negotiable and that the country's sovereignty encompasses both the territory and strategic infrastructure.
These statements highlight that, despite diplomatic contacts, the central positions remain distant. While Moscow maintains territorial claims, Kyiv insists on the restoration of its territorial integrity.
The cost to the Kremlin
Zelensky has insisted that the Russian leadership does not pay attention to the number of casualties, but rather to the financial impact of the war.
"Russians do not count their dead, but rather every dollar, every euro they lose. That is why a decisive action is needed regarding Russian money," he stated in December before Dutch lawmakers, referencing the frozen Russian assets in Europe, according to the media Ukrainform.
Western sanctions, financial isolation, and technological restrictions have put pressure on the Russian economy. Although the Kremlin has sought to mitigate the impact through new trade and energy alliances, the sustained military effort over four years represents a significant burden.
Four years after the start of the invasion, the toll is devastating: thousands of civilians dead, cities destroyed, critical infrastructure damaged, and millions displaced. On the front lines, casualties continue to mount month after month.
Without a clear diplomatic solution on the horizon and with an ongoing conflict, the fourth anniversary finds Ukraine resisting and Moscow facing military, economic, and reputational attrition that, according to Kiev, continues to grow.
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