When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv was expected to fall quickly, but Ukraine defied expectations, resisting a larger adversary and reclaiming some territory through bold counteroffensives.

Nearly three years later, the war grinds on as a brutal stalemate.

Russia continues to make small but steady territorial gains at a high cost, while Ukraine struggles with dwindling resources and morale.

The U.S. delayed critical aid in late 2023, and the fall of Avdiivka in early 2024 marked a significant breach in Ukraine’s defenses.

Though Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Russia in August, holding ground in the Kursk region, it hasn’t stopped Russian advances in the east.

Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have died, with the psychological toll mounting as Russia presses forward, the Associated Press has reported.

As the war nears 1,000 days, both sides remain unwilling to negotiate, leaving the conflict at a grinding impasse.

Written by B.C. Begley