Ukraine Marks Four Years of War, Zelenskyy Declares Russia Has Not Won
Kyiv, Ukraine – As Ukraine entered the fifth year of conflict with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that Russia has failed to achieve its war aims, a sentiment echoed by the Kremlin. The anniversary, marked on February 24, 2026, comes amid continued fighting and ongoing peace negotiations.
Territorial Gains and Air Defense Improvements
Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian forces have regained 300 square kilometers (115 square miles) of territory in southern Ukraine, according to reports from AFP. His commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskii, later revised this figure to 400 square kilometers (155 square miles) since the end of January. These gains, though limited in scale, may have disrupted Russian preparations for a potential spring offensive, as noted by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Russian Campaign and Ukrainian Resilience
Zelenskyy highlighted Russia’s ongoing aerial campaign, noting that the “second army in the world” is targeting civilian infrastructure. Despite a recent barrage of over 1,500 drones and 90 missiles in the week leading up to the anniversary, Ukraine’s air defenses successfully neutralized a significant portion of the attacks. CBS News reported that Ukraine downed all but 26 drones and 31 missiles during one attack on Sunday, February 23, 2026, and 90 percent of the drones and 30 missiles during an attack on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Territory
Ukraine has intensified its strategic campaign to disrupt Russian weapons and fuel supply chains. Recent successes include a strike on the Votkinsk missile factory in Russia’s Udmurtia region on February 21, 2026, using Ukrainian-made FP-5 “Flamingo” missiles. Al Jazeera reported this was the first successful strike on a core target of Russia’s missile industry using a heavy missile capability. The Votkinsk plant manufactures ballistic missiles, including the “Oreshnik” intermediate ballistic missile stationed in Belarus.
Further strikes targeted the Neftogorsk Gas Processing Plant in Samara and the Kaleykino Oil Pumping Station in Tatarstan, impacting Russia’s energy infrastructure. A chemicals plant in Smolensk was too struck, causing explosions and fires.
Kremlin’s Perspective and Ongoing Conflict
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that Russia has not yet achieved all its objectives in Ukraine, stating that the “military operation continues” until those goals are met. CBS News reported this statement on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
International Support and Future Outlook
Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of international support, particularly from the European Union, which has provided 195 billion euros ($230 billion) in aid to date and pledged an additional 90 billion euros ($106 billion) over the next two years. He stated, “Europe has stood with us throughout these difficult, really difficult years, and our people trust Europe.”
As the war enters its fifth year, Ukraine continues to demonstrate resilience and a commitment to defending its independence. The conflict remains a significant challenge to European security and stability.