Ukraine: A dark anniversary amid the rubble of a decade-long conflict

By Mario Galgano – Lviv, Ukraine

With spring approaching, Ukraine slowly emerges from what has been widely described as the harshest winter since the beginning of the invasion. It has not been merely a matter of freezing temperatures, but of a systematic Russian campaign aimed at dismantling the country’s energy infrastructure, seeking to weaken the population’s resistance through cold and darkness.

The drone war and the sacrifice of civilians

Despite significant advances in Ukraine’s air defence systems and an electrical grid that has proven remarkably resilient, Moscow’s weapons are now more lethal, drone swarms more extensive, and attack tactics increasingly adaptive. The result is a nation in constant struggle against blackouts, with millions of citizens subjected to severe rationing.

The most tragic and alarming reality, however, remains the sheer cost of human lives. A recent United Nations report presents a stark assessment: 2025 has been the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since the dramatic events of 2022. At the outset of the conflict, it was difficult to imagine destruction of such magnitude lasting beyond a single year. Today, that perspective has changed significantly. The possibility that the war could continue until 2030 is no longer viewed as an implausible dystopia, but as a concrete prospect weighing heavily on the collective conscience.

The appeal of the Churches: “A crisis of humanity”

In this context of fatigue and suffering, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations firmly raised its voice this morning. In a joint statement, religious leaders strongly denounced what they termed a “war of disruption” - referring to conflict strategies designed to paralyse critical infrastructure, communication, and digital networks - waged by the Russian Federation in open disregard for international norms.

The document outlines a painful list of open wounds: targeted religious persecution and systematic violations of human rights in the occupied territories; the reported abduction of Ukrainian children; and the inhumane treatment of prisoners, both military and civilian. On this day of commemoration, attention is also drawn to the migration crisis, described as the largest in Europe in the twenty-first century.

“With God’s help, and thanks to the strength of spirit of Ukrainian soldiers and society, the Russian aggressor has been halted,” the statement reads. “Its plans have been thwarted, and the foundations have been laid for future coexistence and for the establishment of a just and lasting peace.”

A suspended future

As the skies clear with the changing season, the prevailing sentiment is a mixture of steadfast resilience and profound sorrow. Ukraine has not collapsed, yet the cost of its freedom continues to rise, compelling the international community to confront a reality that many had hoped would already belong to the pages of history.