Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine marks a somber milestone as the conflict shows little sign of ending. The war has inflicted devastation nationwide, with mounting losses on both sides and near-daily aerial attacks that crush ordinary life. President Zelensky said, "Ukraine never chose this war," emphasizing that the country has defended its independence and statehood even as the fighting persists. The Kremlin acknowledged that its aims have not been fully achieved and reiterated that Western support has widened the conflict, framing it as a confrontation with the West. A minute of silence at 10:00 paused the country, and Kyiv’s Maidan square became a focal point for remembrance, with flags and banners marking the dead. Zelensky and his wife Olena led a prayers service, joined by European supporters including Finland's Alexander Stubb, Sweden's Ulf Kristersson, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In Bucha, a town west of Kyiv known for brutal scenes in 2022, the memory of those tragedies underscored the human cost of the conflict.
