Year Five: The Forever War in the East

Townhall Times, New Delhi

Reporter: Bhavika Kalra

By: Global Security Desk | Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Today, the Russia-Ukraine war officially enters its fifth year. There were no victory parades in Kyiv, and there was no “mission accomplished” from Moscow. Instead, the morning was marked by the familiar, low-frequency hum of Shahed drones and the impact of ballistic missiles on the Zaporizhzhia power grid.

While the world’s attention has flickered to other crises over the last 48 months, the 1,000-kilometer front line remains a meat-grinder of 21st-century technology and 20th-century attrition.

1. The Zaporizhzhia Blackout: Targeting the Grid

As the sun rose on the anniversary, Russian forces launched a coordinated strike on the energy infrastructure surrounding Zaporizhzhia.

The Tactic: This wasn’t about seizing territory. It was a “punishment strike” aimed at the electrical substations that feed the Southern Front’s logistics.
The Impact: Local officials report rolling blackouts affecting over 150,000 civilians. It’s a clear message from the Kremlin: as long as the war continues, the lights in Ukraine stay fragile.

2. The Shift to ‘Autonomous Attrition’

The war in 2026 doesn’t look like the war of 2022. It has evolved into a Drone-First Conflict.

AI-Piloted Kill Zones: Both sides are now deploying FPV (First-Person View) drones with basic AI that can lock onto targets even when jammed by Electronic Warfare (EW).
The Trench Reality: Infantry life in the Donbas has become a nightmare of constant aerial surveillance. If you move during the day, you are spotted. If you are spotted, you are targeted within 90 seconds.

[Image: A technical infographic showing the “kill chain” of an AI-integrated drone strike on a modern battlefield.]

3. The European ‘Vow of Longevity’

Brussels didn’t just send “thoughts and prayers” today. The EU leadership used the anniversary to pivot from “emergency aid” to “industrial partnership.”

The Munitions Gap: European defense plants in Poland and Germany are finally hitting their stride, aiming to provide Ukraine with 2.5 million shells annually starting this year.
The Financial Anchor: A new 4-year, multi-billion Euro package was reaffirmed today, signaling to Putin that the West is willing to wait him out.

4. India’s Balancing Act in 2026

New Delhi’s position remains a masterpiece of “Strategic Autonomy.”

The Energy Play: India continues to be a major refiner of Russian crude, keeping the global oil market from a total meltdown while simultaneously expanding tech and defense ties with the West.
The Peace Broker Role: There is growing chatter in the diplomatic corridors of Delhi about a potential “Peace Summit” hosted in India later this year, as the G20 plus nations look for a way to freeze the conflict.

The Outlook: A War of Resources

Metric	Russia (2026)	Ukraine (2026)
Strategy	Attrition and “Sanction-Proof” manufacturing.	High-tech defense and Western-funded resilience.
Primary Need	Manpower and microchips for missiles.	Long-range strike capability and air defense.
Endgame	Holding the four annexed regions.	Restoring 1991 borders (or a “Korean-style” freeze).

The Verdict

The fifth year begins not with a bang, but with a weary sigh. Neither side has the knockout punch. Russia has the mass; Ukraine has the tech. Until one of those variables breaks, 2026 looks like another year of fighting for meters while the world watches on a 10-second delay.