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 August, 2023
Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash. Did Russians know who he was?
In a poll conducted in Russia three weeks after the mutiny of Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner group, only a third of respondents (33%) said they knew about “the military crisis that occurred in Russia on June 24.”
What a country at war can look like: A journey across Ukraine in photos
Life is flourishing in Ukraine but subtle signs and reminders of the full-scale war can be seen and felt even in the places most distant from the actual frontline.
Pictures of life and death in a battered Kramatorsk in the east of Ukraine
Life has changed in the scarred Donetsk region in the east of Ukraine, where a war has raged since 2014 and death is always on the horizon.
For Venezuelans, the invasion of Ukraine hits close to home
For the past twenty years, the Venezuelan government has become increasingly intertwined with the Kremlin. Now, many Venezuelans protest against Russia's encroachments at home.
One day with Azov instructors as a prospective soldier in Ukraine
A sudden announcement of free military training for civilians caused a ruckus, with all the places booked in 10 minutes, as Ukrainians are prepare for a long war ahead.