One Year of War

Today marks the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, escalating an armed conflict which simmered in Ukraine's east since 2014. The move triggered what has become Europe's largest land war since World War II.

Russian President Vladimir Putin began massing troops along the Ukraine border in March 2021, though whether a full-scale invasion was imminent was debated at the time. The past 12 months have included a rebuffed initial Russian surge, a Ukrainian counteroffensive, and intense fighting in Ukraine's south and east. See a map of how the battle has evolved over time here.

Western intelligence suggests military casualties—those either dead or wounded—are nearing 200,000 for Russia and have reached 100,000 for Ukraine. International groups have confirmed the deaths of more than 8,000 Ukrainian civilians but believe the true toll to be higher.

Estimates suggest at least 8 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced, while 8 million others have fled the country. Ukraine's population was above 41 million before the invasion.

Total Western aid—including military, economic, and humanitarian support—has topped $135B. Of that total, more than $75B has been provided by the US.

Putin, in recent days, has cast the war in a historical context, referring to countries adjacent to the country as originally Russian land. Analysts have warned Russia is ramping up for a renewed offensive while also questioning its remaining military capacity.

See photos from a year of war here (warning—sensitive content).