Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)

A big war is happening in Ukraine.

This war began in early 2022. It grew from fights that started in 2014.

Many people had to leave their homes. They had to move to new lands.

Some people are still fighting for their land. Others are working to fix things.

People all over the world want peace. They hope the fighting will stop soon.

A large war is happening in Ukraine. It began in February 2022.

This war grew from older fights. Those fights started in 2014.

In 2014, Russia took part of Ukraine called Crimea. Fighting also began in the Donbas region.

In 2022, Russian troops invaded from many sides. They attacked from the north, south, and east. Ukraine fought back to protect its land. In late 2022, Ukraine won back some cities. They liberated the city of Kherson.

The war has changed many lives. Millions of people had to flee their homes. This is a very big refugee crisis. Many people moved to other countries to stay safe.

The war also costs a lot of money. Ukraine will need much help to fix its cities. Many countries are sending aid to help Ukraine.

A major war is happening in Ukraine right now. This conflict is the largest and deadliest in Europe since World War II.

It began with a large invasion by Russia on 24 February 2022. This was a much bigger version of a war that started in 2014. The fighting has caused many people to be hurt or killed. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers have died in the fighting. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have also been lost.

This war has changed the lives of millions of people.

The war has many different parts happening at once. In February 2022, Russian troops attacked from three main sides. They came from the north through Belarus toward the capital, Kyiv. They also attacked from the south using occupied Crimea. A third group attacked from the east in the Donbas region.

Ukraine responded by using martial law and calling for soldiers. They also stopped all official relations with Russia. Russia has used air strikes to hit many different targets. They even hit the energy grid during the cold winter months.

This conflict did not start suddenly in 2022. It grew from older tensions between the two nations. In 1994, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons for safety. Russia, the US, and the UK signed the Budapest Memorandum to respect Ukraine's borders.

However, things changed in 2014 during the Euromaidan protests. After these protests, Russia took control of Crimea.

Fighting also began in the Donbas region that same year. This earlier war involved Russian-backed groups in Donetsk and Luhansk.

The numbers from this war are very large. About 8 million Ukrainians have moved inside their own country. Another 6 to 7 million people have fled to other nations.

This is the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. As of April 2026, Russian troops hold about 20% of Ukraine. The cost for Russia is estimated at over $450 billion. The World Bank says fixing Ukraine will cost $588 billion.

These are very high costs for both people and money.

Many countries around the world are involved in different ways. Most nations have spoken out against the invasion. The UN General Assembly asked Russia to leave Ukraine. Many countries also give military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Some countries have put sanctions on Russia to limit its power. The war has even affected food for the whole world. Problems with farming and shipping caused a global food crisis. This shows how one war can affect everyone on Earth.

The Russo-Ukrainian war is a major conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It is the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II. This war began with a massive invasion on 24 February 2022. However, the fighting actually started earlier in 2014. This current war is a massive escalation of that previous conflict.

It has caused immense human suffering and massive economic costs. Hundreds of thousands of military personnel have died in the fighting. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have also been killed. As of April 2026, Russian troops occupy roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

The conflict involves several different military fronts and tactics. In February 2022, Russia launched a ground invasion from three sides. One front moved from Belarus toward the capital city, Kyiv. A second front moved from occupied Crimea in the south. A third front attacked from the Donbas region in the east.

Russia also uses air strikes to hit targets far from the fighting. They have specifically targeted the Ukrainian energy grid during winter months. This strategy affects how people live and stay warm. Ukraine responded by enacting martial law and ordering a general mobilisation.

There are distinct stages to the recent fighting. The first phase saw Russian troops attacking the outskirts of Kyiv. After meeting stiff resistance, they retreated from the north by April 2022.

The second phase focused on the Donbas and the city of Mariupol. Russia captured Mariupol after a very destructive siege. In late 2022, Ukraine launched successful counteroffensives in the south and east. They liberated most of the Kharkiv Oblast and the city of Kherson.

In 2024, the war shifted again when Ukraine launched a cross-border offensive into Russia's Kursk Oblast.

The roots of this war go back many years. In 1994, Ukraine signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. They gave up their nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees. The Budapest Memorandum saw Russia, the US, and the UK promise to respect Ukraine's borders.

However, tensions grew during the 2013 Euromaidan protests. These protests were sparked when Ukraine's president withdrew from an EU agreement. This led to the Revolution of Dignity in February 2014. Following this, Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatists in the Donbas.

The human and economic impact of the war is staggering. About 8 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced. Between 6 and 7 million people have fled the country entirely. This has created Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II.

The financial costs are also incredibly high. The direct cost for Russia is estimated at over US$450 billion. The World Bank Group estimates reconstruction in Ukraine will cost US$588 billion.

These numbers show the massive scale of the destruction.

International organizations have responded to the war in many ways. The UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding a Russian withdrawal. The International Court of Justice ordered Russia to halt its military operations. The International Criminal Court (ICC) opened an investigation into war crimes. The ICC even issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin. Many countries have provided large-scale humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. They have also imposed sanctions on Russia and Belarus to limit their resources.

This war has connected to many global issues. The disruption of Ukrainian agriculture has caused a world food crisis. War-related environmental damage has been described by some as ecocide. The conflict also tests international security and military alliances like NATO. It shows how a regional war can affect food, energy, and safety for everyone. Peace negotiations have stalled as Russia refuses to accept a ceasefire. The world continues to watch how this conflict shapes the future.