When the Russian offensive began, Ukraine confronted a bold objective from Moscow: push toward Kyiv and wrap up what the Kremlin called a special operation. A moment of overconfidence followed when a state news agency briefly celebrated a supposed return of little Russia, a term used for Ukraine, as a 40‑mile convoy moved toward the capital. The initial push failed to meet its stated aims, and the Ukrainian government and military stood firm, forcing the column to pull back without an official explanation.
The situation on the ground proved brutal. A year after the announcement, Russia and Ukraine continued to clash along the eastern and southern fronts. On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin outlined a plan that resembled a blitz and blitzkrieg, echoing a World War II tactic that history shows can falter. Analysts noted the first phase underestimated Ukraine’s resolve and Western backing. The echoes of Moscow’s 2008 clash with Georgia lingered as the Kremlin faced stiff resistance. Ukrainian leaders urged troops to stay defiant, and the front lines hardened as Kyiv received persistent support from Western partners. The resilience of Ukrainian forces and civilians, combined with anti-tank missiles and air defense systems supplied from abroad, significantly shaped the resistance.
Meanwhile the Russian army pressed into the eastern regions and formed alliances with self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics. This area, along with the southeast, became the main theater of fighting. By early April, Moscow recognized that a simple display of concentration around Kyiv would not suffice and began withdrawing from some positions near the Chernobyl site. Although the southern and eastern fronts showed destruction, major cities such as Mariupol remained under pressure. A notable constraint for Russian forces was manpower, which led to recruitment efforts by the Wagner mercenary group and the use of prisoners in combat. The aid flows from the United States and other Western nations proved crucial in sustaining Ukrainian resistance and preventing a rapid collapse.
More fuel to the fire
On March 8, Putin addressed Russian women to reassure them about the impact of the conflict on families. Yet by September 21, he announced a partial mobilization, triggering border panic and a jump in airfares. The Ukrainian counteroffensive in early autumn tested the Russian military and the Kremlin’s narrative. The defense needed more personnel, and mobilization efforts later expanded in scope. Analysts noted that early on the invasion lacked enough forces to secure Ukraine and install a pro-Russian government in Kyiv. A noticeable troop shortage prompted continued political and military pressure, with experts predicting a longer mobilization campaign conducted with increased stealth to avoid large-scale migration.
During this period Moscow held referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson to claim those regions. The moves were not recognized as legitimate by the international community, and the effort to consolidate control did not stop the Ukrainian advance. Eventually, Moscow withdrew some claimed territories, including parts like Kherson, which Kyiv now controls. The winter months brought a pause to the advances on both sides due to harsher conditions and supply challenges. The prospect of peace in Ukraine remained distant. Putin later insisted that Russia would press forward, and analysts observed that while Russia did not gain air superiority, the conflict would depend on long‑range missiles and aviation to turn the tide. Ukraine has continued to request Western aircraft, including F‑16 fighters, though such requests had not yet been fulfilled by any alliance partner. (Source attribution: open‑source historical analyses and official timelines).