Ukraine marks 4th I-Day amid war: How drones & defiance stopped Russia’s war machine

Ukraine marks its fourth Independence Day amid a war that has transformed into a static, attritional struggle reminiscent of trench warfare from the First World War. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukrainian defences, bolstered by Western support, have effectively halted large-scale Russian armoured thrusts, replacing them with a reliance on artillery, glide bombs, and short-range missiles.

The conflict has become a test of endurance, with both sides suffering immense human and economic costs. Russia has shifted to attritional tactics, increasingly dependent on partners like Iran and North Korea for drones and weapons, while Ukraine continues to adapt and innovate, utilizing drones and repurposing older systems to fire Western missiles.

Despite the heavy toll and the lack of decisive breakthroughs, Ukraine has managed to prevent Moscow from achieving its strategic goals, marking a prolonged struggle that is reshaping Europe's security order and straining international relations.

Brief written by urgent.news from Times of India's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.