As of November 2025, many people continue to ask, are Russia and Ukraine still at war? The short answer is yes — the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 is ongoing. Despite several diplomatic efforts, temporary ceasefires, and international peace proposals, fighting continues along multiple fronts in eastern and southern Ukraine.
While the intensity of combat has fluctuated, the war remains unresolved. Both nations remain locked in a brutal struggle marked by shifting territorial control, widespread destruction, and immense humanitarian costs.
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The State of the War in Late 2025
Nearly four years after the invasion began, Russia maintains control over significant portions of eastern and southern Ukraine, including parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.
Ukraine, meanwhile, continues defensive and counteroffensive operations with Western support. Although some early Russian advances were reversed in 2023 and 2024, the front lines have largely stabilized in 2025.
Military analysts describe the current phase as a war of attrition, characterized by heavy artillery exchanges, drone warfare, and long-range missile strikes. Neither side has achieved decisive breakthroughs in recent months.
Key Developments in 2025
Throughout 2025, several major developments have shaped the course of the war:
- Spring and Summer 2025 Offensives: Ukrainian forces focused on retaking occupied areas near Zaporizhzhia and the lower Dnipro River. Progress was limited but persistent.
- Continued Russian Missile Strikes: Russia launched repeated missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, targeting energy grids, ports, and industrial zones.
- Western Military Aid: The United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and other allies continued supplying advanced weaponry, including long-range systems and air defense equipment.
- Drone Warfare Expansion: Both sides now rely heavily on drones for reconnaissance and precision strikes, marking a shift in battlefield tactics.
- Civilian Impact: Millions remain displaced, and humanitarian organizations estimate that civilian casualties have surpassed hundreds of thousands since 2022.
Despite multiple attempts at mediated talks throughout 2025, including initiatives by Turkey and the United Nations, no lasting ceasefire has been reached.
Territorial Control: The Current Map
Russia currently occupies roughly 17–18% of Ukrainian territory, including areas in the Donbas region and along the southern coast. Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, remains under Moscow’s control.
Ukrainian forces have regained smaller territories through targeted offensives but face challenges due to limited manpower and continuous Russian bombardment.
Key contested regions include:
- Donetsk: Heavy fighting persists near Avdiivka and Bakhmut.
- Luhansk: Russia maintains fortified positions but faces ongoing Ukrainian pressure.
- Zaporizhzhia: Ukrainian troops continue counterattacks near Orikhiv and Robotyne.
- Kherson: Cross-river operations along the Dnipro remain active, though conditions are volatile.
Satellite imagery and international observers confirm that front-line movement in 2025 has been slower than in previous years, reflecting a grinding and costly stalemate.
Diplomatic Efforts and Peace Talks
Efforts to end the conflict have continued throughout 2025, though none have led to a permanent resolution.
Recent diplomatic highlights include:
- Beijing Peace Conference (March 2025): China hosted indirect discussions involving Russian and Ukrainian envoys. Talks failed to produce tangible outcomes.
- European Mediation Proposals: France and Germany proposed new frameworks for security guarantees in exchange for a phased Russian withdrawal, but Moscow rejected conditions involving NATO expansion.
- Turkey’s Mediation Role: Ankara continues to act as a mediator, particularly regarding prisoner exchanges and humanitarian corridors.
- U.N. Humanitarian Agreements: Limited agreements on food exports through the Black Sea have been intermittently reinstated to prevent global food shortages.
Ukraine insists that any peace deal must include full territorial sovereignty, including Crimea. Russia, however, refuses to relinquish annexed regions, leading to a diplomatic impasse.
The Humanitarian Situation
The human toll of the conflict remains staggering. As of late 2025, international organizations estimate that over 10 million Ukrainians have been displaced, both internally and abroad.
Major Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv, Odesa, and Dnipro, continue to endure periodic missile strikes, disrupting energy and transportation networks.
Civilian Conditions
- Infrastructure Damage: Nearly 50% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed since 2022.
- Refugees: Over 5 million Ukrainians remain in neighboring European countries, with Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic hosting the largest numbers.
- Healthcare Strain: Hospitals near front-line zones operate with limited supplies and frequent power outages.
- Education Disruption: Thousands of schools remain closed or partially destroyed, forcing online or temporary education setups.
In Russia, sanctions and economic strain have affected millions, though official figures remain tightly controlled.
Economic and Global Consequences
The war continues to impact global markets, energy prices, and international trade.
- Energy Markets: European nations have significantly reduced reliance on Russian gas, accelerating the shift toward renewable and alternative energy sources.
- Global Food Security: Ukraine remains a major grain exporter, but disruptions at Black Sea ports have caused global price spikes.
- Defense Industry Growth: U.S. and European defense sectors have expanded production to support Ukraine and replenish NATO supplies.
- Sanctions Pressure: Western sanctions on Russia remain extensive, targeting energy exports, financial systems, and military supply chains.
Despite sanctions, Russia’s economy has adapted through increased trade with China, India, and Middle Eastern partners. Analysts note that while sanctions have constrained growth, they have not crippled Russia’s ability to sustain the war effort.
Western Support for Ukraine
Western military and financial assistance remains crucial to Ukraine’s defense. The United States continues to lead support efforts, providing weapons, humanitarian aid, and training.
In 2025, additional U.S. funding packages were approved to support Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction efforts. NATO countries have also increased joint training exercises along the alliance’s eastern borders to deter further Russian aggression.
The Ukrainian military now fields a blend of Soviet-era and Western equipment, including:
- Advanced missile systems.
- Modern air defense batteries.
- Western-produced tanks and armored vehicles.
- Drones for intelligence and precision strikes.
However, Ukrainian forces continue to face ammunition shortages, personnel fatigue, and logistical challenges that have slowed their advances.
Russia’s Position and Strategy
Russia’s leadership maintains that its objectives — described as “demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine” — remain unchanged. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Moscow will continue its military operations until its goals are achieved.
Russian forces have fortified defensive lines, using drones, electronic warfare, and missile systems to maintain control of occupied territories.
The Kremlin also continues to mobilize new soldiers, though domestic criticism of the prolonged conflict has grown. Reports from independent monitors indicate increased casualties among Russian troops, with thousands killed or wounded each month.
The Role of International Organizations
The United Nations, NATO, and the European Union remain deeply involved in addressing both the humanitarian and security dimensions of the war.
- NATO: The alliance has expanded its military presence in Eastern Europe but remains cautious about direct involvement in Ukraine.
- United Nations: Humanitarian agencies continue delivering aid to displaced populations, focusing on food, water, and medical assistance.
- European Union: The EU has maintained strong economic sanctions and continues to support Ukraine’s bid for future membership.
These organizations collectively emphasize diplomacy and sanctions as tools to pressure Russia while avoiding escalation into a direct global conflict.
Cyber and Information Warfare
Beyond the battlefield, cyber and information warfare continue to play major roles in 2025. Both sides engage in hacking operations, digital surveillance, and online propaganda campaigns.
Ukraine has bolstered its cybersecurity infrastructure with Western assistance, countering Russian attacks on government systems and energy networks.
Social media remains a major front in the information war, with both governments using digital platforms to shape public perception domestically and internationally.
Casualty and Damage Estimates
While official numbers are closely guarded, analysts estimate that hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides have been killed or wounded since 2022.
The destruction of infrastructure — including housing, transportation, and industry — has left parts of Ukraine devastated. Reconstruction costs are projected to exceed $600 billion, a figure that continues to rise as the war drags on.
The Outlook for 2026
Looking ahead, the prospects for peace remain uncertain. Analysts predict that the war is likely to continue well into 2026 unless one side achieves a significant breakthrough or external diplomatic pressure forces negotiations.
Ukraine continues to seek full restoration of its territorial integrity, while Russia shows no signs of retreating from annexed areas.
Efforts by global powers, including the United States, European Union, and China, are expected to intensify in the coming months as international fatigue over the prolonged conflict grows.
For now, the fighting continues, and the world watches closely as one of the largest European wars in decades enters another year.
The war between Russia and Ukraine shows no immediate signs of ending, leaving millions of lives and global stability hanging in the balance. Do you believe peace talks will gain traction in 2026? Share your thoughts below and stay informed as this story continues to develop.
