Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine reached its fourth anniversary on Tuesday, entering the conflict's fifth year amid fresh Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukrainian officials reported damage to facilities in Zaporizhzhia from Russian attacks on the anniversary day.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Russia has not "broken Ukrainians" or won the war, emphasizing Ukraine's resilience after withstanding a larger adversary. He noted that Russian forces captured only 0.79% of Ukrainian territory over the past year, according to the Institute for the Study of War. Russia now controls roughly 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea and parts of the east seized prior to 2022.

European leaders gathered in Kyiv to mark the occasion and reaffirm support. French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro attended, convening a "Coalition of the Willing." Starmer stated Russia is not winning, citing half a million Russian losses for just 0.8% territorial gain last year. Hungary blocked new EU sanctions and a $106 billion loan for Ukraine, highlighting divisions within the bloc.

On the battlefield, the war has settled into attrition along a static front line, characterized by trenches, drones, and slow advances. Russian forces recently captured Pokrovsk in Donetsk after incremental gains, but progress remains glacial at about 70 meters per day in some areas last year. Ukrainian troops reported liberating 200 square kilometers near Novopavlivka and Oleksandrivka. Russia conducted large combined strikes overnight into February 22, shifting targets, while escalating sabotage to undermine Ukrainian society.

Casualties are staggering. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates up to 325,000 Russian deaths and 1.2 million total losses, with Ukraine suffering up to 140,000 dead and 600,000 total casualties since 2022—the deadliest European conflict since World War II. Russia allocates half its federal budget to the war and can sustain operations through 2026 despite economic strains, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Peace efforts have stalled. Talks resumed under U.S. President Donald Trump but yielded little progress, with Russia demanding annexation of occupied territories and Ukraine insisting on security guarantees. The Kremlin frames the conflict as a broader confrontation with the West. Rebuilding Ukraine could cost $588 billion over the next decade, up 12% from prior estimates due to energy infrastructure damage.

The United Nations, NATO, and European Parliament held events commemorating the invasion, underscoring global attention as the war grinds on.