War in Ukraine, Photo: LIBKOS/AP
The year 2024 was one of the most difficult for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Despite their heroic defence, Ukrainian troops came under intense pressure along the entire frontline. Analysts from the Kyiv Independent, AFP, and The Moscow Times note that the Ukrainian Armed Forces were forced to lose territory as a result of active offensives by Russian troops in the east and north of the country.
Russia captured Avdiivka back in February, continuing its offensive towards Toretsk, New York and Vuhledar. The latter fell under Russian control in October. Russian army advances were also recorded in the area of Kupiansk and other parts of Kharkiv region. In total, in 2024, Russian troops seized more than 2,660 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory, which is significantly higher than the previous year.
A blow to Ukraine’s defence
Despite Western support, the Ukrainian Armed Forces faced a shortage of personnel and depletion of resources. The law on mobilisation failed to fully address the problem of personnel shortages, which, according to experts, was one of the reasons for the loss of strategically important cities.
The situation has been further complicated by the intensification of Russian missile attacks, including the use of new developments such as the Oreshnik ballistic missile. Although Western military experts see this as a show of force rather than a real threat, such attacks have greatly complicated the lives of civilians and Ukraine’s defence logistics.
Counterattack and search for new strategies
Ukraine’s only notable success this year was an August counterattack in Russia’s Kursk region, which temporarily seized about 20 settlements, including the key transport hub of Suju. However, by the end of the year, the controlled territories had shrunk to 800 square kilometres, and Russia began using North Korean troops for counterattacks.
Peace talks: first signals
Amid battlefield losses and uncertainty over continued US military support under Donald Trump, Ukrainian officials have increasingly talked about the possibility of ending the active phase of the war. In November, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the territories controlled by Kyiv should be brought under the NATO umbrella, while the rest of the land could be returned through diplomatic means.
This position has drawn criticism from politicians and experts, as any compromise with Russia could be perceived as weakness and encourage Moscow to take new aggressive actions in the future.
