War in Ukraine

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Heorhii—now a UNITED24 Media project manager—joined the territorial defense and later volunteered in the army. Three years later, he shares the moments he captured when it all began: war’s raw reality—resilience, camaraderie, and defiance—with a middle finger raised to the invading force.

Russia’s blitzkrieg, meant to crush Ukraine in days in February 2022, has dragged into a grueling war that’s draining Moscow’s economy, costing nearly a million soldiers, and exposing the cracks in its so-called “second-best army in the world.” Ukraine is the reason why.

What if Russia reaches Europe's borders? It may sound dystopian, but just three years ago, war in Europe and missile strikes on Kyiv seemed unthinkable too.

We have illustrated the progression of the full-scale war, now in its third year, through detailed maps. These visuals help us better understand how the war is evolving and how Ukraine continues to resist the aggressor despite Russia's vast resources.