Kyiv residents are receiving support from the Ukrainian Red Cross as Russia’s full-scale invasion enters its fifth year, with the organization delivering over 3,300 hot meals to people at support points across the city, according to a report from Inter Press Service.
The ongoing conflict has profoundly altered the lives of Ukrainians, with Iryna Yakova, 29, of Lviv, reflecting on a shift in values, and priorities. “Material things become unimportant when your loved ones or friends are in danger,” Yakova told IPS. She described a heightened sense of national identity and empathy for fellow Ukrainians, stating, “During the full-scale invasion, I realised that all of Ukraine is my home. I cry for people who were killed by a missile in Kyiv while they were sleeping at night.”
The human cost of the war is immense. While Ukraine’s government does not release official figures for military casualties, estimates suggest up to 600,000 military personnel have been lost, with Russian military casualties potentially exceeding twice that number. UN bodies report more than 15,000 civilian deaths and over 41,000 injuries in Ukraine since the February 24, 2022, invasion.
Recent data from Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) indicates a concerning increase in civilian casualties. The organization reported a 26 percent rise in civilian casualties in 2025 compared to 2024, despite a 6 percent decrease in the number of explosive weapon incidents. AOAV’s data suggests a shift in the nature of the conflict, with an average 33 percent increase in civilians killed or injured per incident, resulting in 2,248 civilian deaths and 12,493 injuries from explosive violence. Nearly 70 percent of civilian casualties occurred in residential areas, up from just over 40 percent in 2024.
Niamh Gillen, a researcher at AOAV, told IPS that while it is impossible to definitively state that Russian forces are deliberately targeting civilians, “the data speaks for itself,” indicating attacks within civilian areas like hospitals, schools, and cities.
The war has also triggered widespread displacement, with at least 3.4 million people internally displaced within Ukraine. This has placed significant strain on host communities and essential services. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over two-thirds of the Ukrainian population have experienced a deterioration in their health since the start of the invasion, and mental health professionals warn of a growing mental health crisis, potentially affecting up to 10 million people.
The winter months have brought additional hardship, with repeated Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure leading to widespread power outages and freezing temperatures, reaching as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. Jamie Wah, Deputy Head of Delegation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Ukraine, described the conditions as “unbearable,” stating, “Some nights have been very unbearable. There is no escape from the cold.”
Humanitarian organizations, including the Ukrainian Red Cross, are operating emergency heating points to provide warmth, assistance, and food. However, Wah emphasized that Here’s just one of many crises facing Ukrainians, including ongoing needs in frontline regions, strained family ties, and immense mental health challenges.
Despite the exhaustion and hardship, many Ukrainians express a determination to persevere. Iryna, reflecting on the fourth anniversary of the war, stated, “I feel a sense of responsibility. I do not have the right to deliver up, because many people have died so that I could have the chance to live.”
Accusations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and breaches of international humanitarian law continue to be leveled against Russian forces. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General has registered at least 180,000 alleged war crimes, but prosecutions remain limited, with only over 100 cases completed so far. Concerns are also emerging regarding the potential for diminished international accountability, with some observers noting a shift in global priorities and a reluctance to uphold international justice, as evidenced by the potential participation of Russian athletes in the Paralympics this year.
Oleh Martynenko, an expert at the Ukrainian NGO Center for Civil Liberties, expressed optimism that war criminals will be brought to justice, citing Ukrainian participation in international missions and courts, as well as the development of domestic criminal prosecution systems aligned with UN standards.
