In Pictures: Four years of Ukraine war
Al Jazeera
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine marks four years since Russia’s invasion, resulting in Europe's largest war since World War II. The human cost has been staggering: over 15,000 civilians killed, including at least 763 children, and thousands more injured. Military losses are equally devastating, with estimates of up to 1.2 million Russian casualties and between 500,000 to 600,000 Ukrainian military personnel affected. The war has displaced millions, leaving over 5.3 million Ukrainians as refugees in Europe and 3.7 million internally displaced. The physical toll is immense, with cities reduced to rubble and critical infrastructure like healthcare facilities and energy systems heavily damaged.
The conflict’s impact on civilians worsened in 2025, making it the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since 2022. Over 2,514 deaths and 12,142 injuries were recorded, marking a 31% increase compared to 2024. The United Nations highlights that these figures likely underestimate the true casualties due to limited access to verification. Additionally, over one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory remains unsafe due to landmines and unexploded ordnance. The World Bank estimates reconstruction costs at $588 billion over a decade
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/24/2026