UKRAINE: Three Years at War

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At 5 a.m. that morning, Ukrainians awoke to the horror of their neighbor’s troops storming into their country. Bombs rained down, children were kidnapped, families were torn apart. Millions fled, thousands perished, and countless others suffered at the hands of the Russian forces.  

In this blog post, I want us to honor those who gave their lives defending Ukraine’s peace, European values, and democracy. That was all Ukraine ever wanted—and for it, the country continues to pay a devastating price.  

 

THREE YEARS OF BLOODHSHED

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 839,040 Russian soldiers have died in combat since the start of the war. But beyond this staggering human loss, Russia has also suffered immense material destruction. Since the invasion began, it has lost 9,902 tanks, 20,653 armored personnel vehicles, 369 planes, 331 helicopters, and 28 warships and boats—a catastrophic blow to its military capabilities.  

Why bring up Russian losses? Because it highlights the incredible resilience and strength of the Ukrainian army and its people in fighting against a vastly larger force. Anyone claiming that Ukraine is losing is delusional—like Trump. Ukraine has already won in several critical ways:  

• It did not fall in 72 hours, despite what the Kremlin and Putin believed.  
• The sheer damage inflicted on Russia—both in human lives and military resources—has exceeded all expectations. The human cost alone will leave a lasting scar deeper than Putin anticipated.  
• The destruction of Russian materiel has bought Europe crucial time to prepare and strengthen its defenses.  
• Simply by still standing and fighting, Ukraine continues to frustrate Putin, proving that his ambitions have failed.  

Beyond battlefield losses, Russia is bleeding internally. Tens, even hundreds of thousands of returning Russian soldiers now suffer from PTSD, lost limbs, delusions, and uncontrollable rage—damaged men returning to a fragile society. The infamous penal battalions have unleashed dangerous criminals back into Russian cities and villages. Meanwhile, thousands of Russian families have lost loved ones, and the government cannot afford to pay widows’ pensions or death compensations promised in military contracts.  

The Soviet Union collapsed in part due to the psychological and social wreckage left by veterans returning from Afghanistan. The war in Ukraine is delivering the same outcome—on a far greater scale.  

And then there’s Russia’s demographic crisis. Even before the war, its birth rate was in decline. Now, with men dying on the frontlines or fleeing to other countries, the population decline is accelerating. Russia was already on an unsustainable trajectory—this war has only sped up its downfall.  

WHAT ABOUT UKRAINE?

Ukraine has suffered beyond measure in this war. Cities have been reduced to rubble. Defenders have fought with unimaginable bravery, many giving their lives, while countless others bear permanent wounds—missing limbs, shattered bodies, and deep psychological scars. Families have been torn apart. Children have been stolen. Women and men alike have been raped, tortured, and brutalized by Russian terrorists. This burden is immense, and yet Ukraine continues to carry it, fighting not just for survival, but for freedom—for its right to exist as a European nation, democratic and sovereign.  

Everyone is exhausted. Everyone wishes it would end. But wishing won’t make it so. Right now, stopping is not an option. The so-called peace talks between Russia and the U.S. are not only pointless, they are dangerous—just another trap designed to weaken Ukraine. What Ukraine needs is time. It needs to hold on, to fight a little longer, to prove that it is still standing strong. Every day that Ukraine resists is a day it secures a stronger position to negotiate on its own terms.  

We in Europe must stand with Ukraine. This is not just their fight—it is ours. We must provide money, weapons, and unwavering support. And if necessary, we should even be prepared to put boots on the ground, though we must acknowledge the risks that come with such a step. But whatever the solution, Europe must act fast. Ukraine needs everything we can give, and it needs it now.  

The only way this war ends is with Russia’s defeat and total capitulation. If Ukraine is forced to surrender instead, the world will not see peace—we will be staring down the beginning of World War III. This is not speculation; intelligence agencies across Europe have warned of it. Strength is the only language Putin understands. Weakness invites further aggression.  

Trump, as always, fails to grasp this reality. He is too ignorant to see that appeasement only fuels dictators. The free world cannot afford such stupidity. We must be strong, we must be decisive, and above all, we must not fail Ukraine.  

CONCLUSION

Ukraine has already defied the odds. It has withstood the might of a brutal and terroristic empire, inflicted staggering losses on the enemy, and proven that freedom is worth any sacrifice. But the fight is far from over. Every day, Ukraine fights not just for itself but for the stability of Europe and the values of the free world.  

There is no middle ground. A frozen conflict only gives Russia time to rebuild, rearm, and strike again. The only path to real peace is victory—one where Russia is decisively defeated and unable to wage war again. Anything less will only invite greater catastrophe.  

Now is not the time for hesitation, fatigue, or half-measures! Ukraine needs our unwavering support, and Europe must rise to the occasion. If we fail to act with the urgency and strength required, we will not just fail Ukraine—we will fail ourselves!