What many in the West perceived as a strategic blunder is increasingly seen in Moscow as a costly but necessary and ultimately successful gamble. As the all-out war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, Russian political elites remain convinced that their leader, Vladimir Putin, did not make a grave error by launching it in February 2022. Instead, they are looking back with a sense of achievement, and they have good reason to believe that the war is ending on their terms, perhaps even soon.
In 2021, when Olga Rudenko and other journalists launched the Kyiv Independent, they were committed to making a publication that wouldn't face political pressure from an owner. A few months later, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the Independent began reporting breaking news from the front lines.
The most conservative figures around half a million deaths on the Ukrainian side are five times higher than those of the Balkan War (1992-1995), which totaled 100,000, of whom 13,500 were civilians.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy says Russia is focusing on attacking "primarily railway infrastructure." Meanwhile, the Kremlin has said talks with Ukraine will continue in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. DW has more. Ukraine has reported several attacks on railway in recent days [FILE: January 27, 2026]Image: Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP Photo/picture alliance Skip next section What you need to know Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reported new Russian attacks on Ukrainian transport routes German authorities have arrested five over allegedly exporting goods to Russian defense companies Russia has confirmed trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi will continue on Wednesday Keep reading for the latest updates from Russia's war in Ukraine on Monday, February 2: Skip next section
