February 24, 2024, marks the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a country now entering its third year of massive destruction that has caused the death of at least 20,000 civilians and servicemen and women. This adds to the toll of Russia’s 2014 war that led to its ongoing occupation of Crimea and parts of Eastern Ukraine and several thousand deaths.
Support for Ukraine has grown from being mostly humanitarian and political in early 2022 to economic and, finally, military as well as diplomatic by the end of 2023. The US, the UK, and countries in the EU close to Ukraine were among the first to call for full and military support to Kyiv and have since been joined by others in Europe, East Asia (besides China and North Korea), and elsewhere. But that support is also reaching its limit because of Ukraine fatigue but also because another war started in the Middle East in Gaza, channeling its own share of media attention, money, weapons, and political engagement on different sides.
In Ukraine, an alliance of civilians and military forces continues to resist. While elections supposed to take place in March 2024 cannot take place under martial law, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy retains clear support inside the country. Several million Ukrainians — the vast majority of women and children — live as refugees in Europe, North America, and elsewhere.
For more about the lived experience of the war, read also War Time Stories from Ukraine
Russia, which lost around 50,000 soldiers and a few civilians, claims it is determined to continue what it still calls a “Special military operation” — yet opposition to the war mounts among wives of soldiers, non-Russian nations, LGBTQ+ groups, and what remains of Russian opposition inside the country.
For more, read Opposing Putin: A multitude of voices
Meanwhile, the world continues to assess its own views and roles in regard to Russia’s invasion: countries like China see it as an economic and diplomatic opportunity to sell its goods and services and increase its influence over Russia; others see their societies reacting in fragmented ways: while war is always business for some, civil society and media might take opposite views.
For more, read Understanding the link between Ukraine and Taiwan
Global Voices continues to provide international content illustrating the need to understand different contexts and lived experiences of those who are closely or remotely affected by this war. In 2024, it is also increasing stories written by people from Ukraine.
Stories about Entering a third year of war in Ukraine from January, 2023
‘We are asking for forgiveness that we know we will never receive': In Russia, people are bringing flowers to monuments of Ukrainians
In at least 17 cities of Russia, people are bringing flowers and photos of the destroyed house in Dnipro, Ukraine, hit by a Russian missile on January 14, 2023, to spontaneous memorials.
In Russia, video games are unsafe for kids. But not for the usual reasons
Nikita Uvarov, a teenager from Siberia, is serving a five-year jail sentence for planning to build the FSB building and blow it up in Minecraft.
“I will forever be the enemy of the Russian regime” says TikToker in Moldova
This is the first case of a TikToker formerly based in Russia openly standing against the Russian regime and supporting Ukraine.
Relatives of drafted soldiers in Russia do not know if they are dead or alive
In the Russian region of Samara, a petition to publish names of mobilized soldiers who died after the shelling of Makeevka on the 31st of December, 2022, gathered 50,000 signatures. The army officials refused.
Popular Russian singer answers ‘Glory to Ukraine’. Now they want to revoke his citizenship
Singer Valerii Meladze has been openly against the war since February 2022. Now he may face harsh consequences for the words he said off-the-record in Dubai in support of Ukraine.
Undertones in Russia: War, Propaganda, the West
Researchers share some of the strongest narratives that are circulating in Russia and what we can expect in 2023