Four Years of Invasion in Ukraine: Toll of Two Million Victims and Technological Revolution on the Front

Four years have passed since the armed forces of the Russian Federation launched a full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Today's picture of the conflict is primarily terrifying human statistics. According to the latest estimates, the total number of dead and wounded on both sides may amount to nearly two million people. Particularly drastic data concerns the occupying forces; some sources indicate that Moscow may have lost up to 1.3 million soldiers, including the wounded and those permanently unfit for combat. Despite such enormous losses, both sides show determination to continue military actions, heralding further escalation in the coming months. The war in Ukraine is the largest armed conflict in Europe since the end of World War II in 1945. The scale of industrial and human mobilization resembles clashes from the early 20th century, combining trench warfare with state-of-the-art guidance systems. The war is entering a new technological phase, referred to as a "robotic war." Traditional armored clashes have given way to the massive use of FPV drones and artificial intelligence systems that autonomously identify targets on the battlefield. These innovations have forced a change in tactics; soldiers operate in smaller units, and any attempt to concentrate forces is immediately detected by ubiquitous surveillance systems. Simultaneously, Russia continues its strategy of missile terror, attacking critical infrastructure in cities such as Kyiv or Lviv, resulting in further casualties among the civilian population. 2 mln — estimated number of casualties on both sides of the conflict The diplomatic situation remains tense. Although reports are emerging about possible negotiations involving US envoy Steven Witkoff, which could begin within the next three weeks, Kyiv continues to appeal for accelerated integration with the European Union and ammunition deliveries. Europe faces the challenge of taking on the burden of responsibility for the continent's security, as assistance from Washington becomes increasingly uncertain. In the shadow of the fighting, a battle for memory is also taking place; a special museum documenting the "harshness of war" has opened in Berlin, aiming to remind people of the atrocities of the ongoing conflict. The Crimean Peninsula and parts of Donbas have been under Russian occupation since 2014, which served as a prelude to the 2022 invasion. The international community has largely not recognized the annexation of these territories, imposing a series of economic sanctions on the Kremlin.