**Four Years of Bloodshed: A Look Back at Russia-Ukraine War** As the Russia-Ukraine war marks its fifth year, the devastating impact of the conflict is still being felt across Europe. The war, which began in 2022, has left countless lives lost, and millions displaced. Here's a look at five pivotal moments that have shaped the course of the conflict. **The Invasion that Sparked it All** It all began on February 24, 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a major military operation in Ukraine. Dubbed a "special military operation," the invasion was aimed at "de-Nazifying" and "demilitarizing" Ukraine. However, the Russian army's rapid advance was met with fierce resistance from Ukrainian forces, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The capital city of Kyiv remained out of Russian control, but the southeastern port city of Mariupol fell after a brutal siege. **The Bucha Massacre: A Turning Point** As Russian forces retreated from Kyiv's suburbs, the streets of Bucha and surrounding areas were found to be littered with the bodies of civilians who had been summarily executed. The horrific discovery sparked an international outcry and led to the first war crimes investigations. A year later, the International Criminal Court issued a war crimes arrest warrant against Putin, accusing him of "unlawfully deporting" Ukrainian children to Russia. **Ukrainian Counteroffensives: A Glimmer of Hope** Despite the initial setbacks, Ukrainian forces launched a series of counteroffensives, backed by deliveries of weapons from Western allies. The Ukrainian army regained control of the northeastern Kharkiv region and the regional capital Kherson in the south. However, the battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut was long and bloody, leaving the city in ruins. **The Latest Developments: Russia's Slow but Steady Advance** In 2024, Russian forces regained the initiative on the frontline, slowly but surely advancing despite losses. The Ukrainian army, short on manpower and ammunition, struggled to hold back the Russian advance. In August 2024, Ukrainian troops crossed the Russian border, seizing hundreds of square kilometers in the western Kursk region. However, they were driven out in March 2025, after a battle that involved North Korean troops. **The Russia-Ukraine War: A Conflict with No End in Sight** As the war enters its fifth year,