Russia Feels Strain of Ukraine War Four Years On

Published: 23 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Yelets in winter might at first appear lifted from a Russian fairy tale: golden Orthodox domes glint in the cold sunlight, and ice fishermen dot the frozen river below. Yet beneath the picturesque scene, the realities of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine are impossible to ignore.

In this town, 350 km south of Moscow, reminders of conflict appear in everyday spaces. Recruitment billboards promise a one-off sum equivalent to £15,000 for anyone signing up to fight in Ukraine. Nearby, a poster depicts a Russian soldier taking aim with a Kalashnikov, emblazoned with the slogan: “We’re there where we need to be.”

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Kremlin envisaged a swift operation. Four years on, the war grinds on — already surpassing the duration of Nazi Germany’s conflict on Soviet soil — leaving visible consequences for towns like Yelets. One apartment block features a mural honoring five local men killed in Ukraine, with the phrase: “Glory to the heroes of Russia!” painted above.

For many residents, the human toll is personal. Irina, a bus station ticket collector, recounts friends and relatives lost on the front line. While struggling to make ends meet amid soaring utility bills and prices, she helps assemble aid packages for soldiers. “In the Great Patriotic War, we knew what we were fighting for,” she says. “I’m not sure what we’re fighting for now.”

The war has introduced new dangers closer to home. Ukrainian drone attacks have targeted the Lipetsk region, prompting the installation of emergency shelters in parks, bus stops, and residential blocks. “The sirens go off almost every night,” Irina explains, “but we just go into the corridor where there are no windows.”

Symbols of the war permeate everyday life. A local pancake café displays the Latin letters V and Z, slogans associated with the military campaign. “Grab a pancake, then the whole world,” the sign reads, echoing rhetoric once voiced by President Vladimir Putin about Russian territorial ambitions.

Economic strain compounds the sense of hardship. Russia’s budget deficit has grown while the economy stagnates. The government has increased VAT from 20% to 22%, citing defence and security needs. Small businesses, like Anastasiya Bykova’s bakery, face rising costs for utilities, rent, taxes, and ingredients. “Imagine we all have to shut down — our bakery, the restaurant opposite. What’s left? Just a dark grey patch,” she says.

Residents such as pensioner Ivan Pavlovich balance their frustration with resignation. Ice in the walls, leaking pipes, and broken lifts underscore daily challenges, even as he voices reluctant support for the military operation. “If I were younger, I’d go and fight there,” he admits, “but prices keep rising. Pensions go up, but prices go up even more. So, what do I gain? Nothing.”

As Russia enters the fifth year of its invasion, everyday life carries a quiet sense of tension, weariness, and uncertainty. Many citizens have little faith in the power to influence events, and optimism is scarce. For now, the people of Yelets — like countless others across the country — are hunkering down, navigating rising costs, new threats, and the enduring human cost of war.

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