Feb. 23, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: Feb. 24 was the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then at least 55,000 Ukrainian civilians and perhaps 500,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded by Russia, according to the UN and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
From the start Russia ignored the laws of war and conducted military operations in Ukraine with a level of barbarity unseen in Europe since 1945. Systematic murder, torture and rape of civilians; execution of Ukrainian POWs; abduction of thousands of children; unrestrained looting, arson and robbery; the obliteration of civilian infrastructure; and targeted destruction of Ukrainian churches, museums and monuments are hallmarks of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Yet for all of the destruction it has inflicted, Russia is losing this war. Since 2022 Moscow has taken 1.5% of Ukraine’s territory at the cost of 1.2 million casualties and staggering equipment losses. Its army is stalemated on a drone-dominated battlefield where movement risks death. In the last two months approximately 65,000 Russian soldiers were KIA —more than Moscow was able to replace.
Russia is losing primarily because of the bravery, skill and sacrifices of the Ukrainian military, supported by the vast majority of Ukrainians and led by an inspired president. Since 2022 an international coalition of democracies enabled Ukraine’s resistance with vital aid. The United States led this effort until the Trump administration cut off nearly all aid in 2025, shamefully betraying democratic Ukraine to curry favor with fascist Russia.
With Russia’s economy spiraling downward, Ukraine can outlast Russia and “win by not losing.” Unfortunately the Trump administration’s tilt toward Russia will only extend that timeline. It is morally excruciating that Trump’s pro-Kremlin orientation will enable Russia to kill thousands more Ukrainians before the clock runs out on Putin’s bloodthirsty invasion. EDWARD GRIMES Rockbridge County
