The war between Russia and Ukraine began in 2022 and is still active now in 2026. “The original conflict is lost, they’re just shooting,” a Ukrainian resident said. As of now, Ukraine has received military aid from the UK and Germany while Russia continues to target specific cities in Ukraine, tearing them down one by one. Locals explain that Russian soldiers will invade their houses, forcing Ukrainians to leave their homes behind with no notice. Residents have said when it is clear which town will be targeted next, they move out and bomb the remains of their houses to leave no shelter for Russian soldiers.

Families are pleading for the war to end as they say men are forced to go into the Ukrainian military as soon as they are of age, though due to the lack of personnel they are not expected to come back alive. “They are sending them to die, not fight” a local expressed.

One of the most recent updates is the Orthodox Easter Ceasefire, where both parties blame each other for violating the agreement. Russia suggested a ceasefire as a “humanitarian gesture” on Apr. 9. Ukrainian officials reported Russia did not follow the agreement and continued to strike the country specifically in Odesa and Kharkiv. Though the Russian Defense Ministry claimed nearly 2,000 violations by Ukrainian forces.

As the war progresses, many are no longer taking Putin’s reasoning for the war seriously in any way. “He believes, ‘Hey, Ukraine, I’m more powerful than you, and because I’m more powerful than you, Ukraine, I can tell you what to do and with whom to associate,’” US News quotes Bradley Bowman, the Senior Director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Meanwhile in the states, President Trump has not recently made claims or noted any affiliation with Ukraine or Russia regarding the war. The war goes on with both Ukraine and Russia going strong.