Inside Europe's Longest Modern War - PantherNOW
Sean Yakobson | Contributory Writer As of June 11, 2026, the war in Ukraine has officially lasted longer than World War I, “The war to end all wars,” a tragic slogan to say the least. One could argue that the conflict actually started in 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea, making the total conflict roughly […]
Sean Yakobson | Contributory WriterAs of June 11, 2026, the war in Ukraine has officially lasted longer thanWorld War I, “The war to end all wars,” a tragic slogan to say the least. One could argue that the conflict actually started in 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea, making the total conflict roughly 12 years old. This violated several territorial integrity and ceasefire agreements, including theBudapest Memorandum (1994), which stated that Russia, along with the US and UK, agreed to respect Ukraine’s independence and its existing borders following the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991), in exchange for Ukraine surrendering its nuclear arsenal. Russia’s annexation ofCrimeawas a military takeover and formal integration of the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula into Russia, making it the biggest land grab in Europe since World War II. This was widely condemned by Western governments as illegal, and only a few countries recognize Crimea as Russian territory (North Korea, Sudan, Afghanistan, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria). Russia’s justification for this takeover claimed historical ownership; Crimea was once part of Russia’s Soviet Republic until it was transferred to the Ukrainian Soviet Republic in 1954. The intention was the “protection of ethnic Russians”, who made up roughly 60% of Crimea’s population; however, no evidence indicated any threats these ethnic Russians. Crimea to this day remains occupied by Russiawhile legally being part of Ukraine under international law. Ukraine insists that it will reclaim its lost territory. This annexation would begin the domino effect of setting the stage for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s“Special Military Operation”officially kicked off at 5:00 AM on February 24, 2022, when President Vladimir Putin launched an all-out assault on Ukraine. Ballistic and cruise missiles, along with long-range artillery, struck multiple cities and critical infrastructure in a widespread attack that signaled the start of the full-scale invasion. Putin used the pretext of“demilitarization and denazification”of Ukraine, while claiming he had no plans to occupy Ukrainian territory. In his invasion speech, Putin claimed that the operation was aimed at protecting Russian speakers from a “genocide” instigated by a Ukrainian government allegedly controlled by neo-Nazis. At the time, the government was led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish. Fast forward 1,570 days, and the invasion is still ongoing. UN officials warned in early June 2026 that the war is“deadlier today at any point since the start. ”The war has become an attritional conflict with Russia slowly gaining ground in eastern Ukraine while Ukraine continues to conduct strategic drone strikes deep into Russian territory to target energy infrastructure and military supply chains. The totalmilitary casualties(killed + wounded + missing) for Ukraine are roughly 500,000– 600,000, while Russia has approximately 1. 1–1. 4 million military casualties according to CSIS. Civilian deaths in Ukraineare at least 15,850+ (confirmed minimum) according to UN OHCHR. It’s important to note that both governments treat casualty data as ‘state secrets’ and exaggerate enemy losses while minimizing their own losses. In an interview conducted on Zoom Anastasiia Chupryna, 17, who aspires to be a professional interpreter, is the daughter of Vladimir Chupryna who runs an online shop selling antiques and collectibles from the Soviet Union to make ends meet. She was just 5 years old when Russia annexed Crimea and has spent her childhood in conflict and fears for her life, along with many others around her. She speaks about her seven year old nephew and for other children saying, “As for teenagers and kids, they just grow and see war. ” When asked if she had a message for those around the world, she said, “We just want to have peace, and we want to be heard. ”Ukraine’s fight for freedom isn’t just about the war that started in 2022—it’s part of a much longer history of oppression shaped by geography, empire, and a constant struggle for democracy. At FIU, students who want to understand that deeper story can take “Ukraine 101,” a course taught by Professor Malgorzata Durygin. It pulls you into the country’s storied past, its cultural impact on the world, and gives you a whole new angle on Ukraine and its fight to exist. About Post Author