{"id":1361705,"date":"2026-02-24T07:08:31","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T05:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/remembering-everything-how-four-years-of-the-great-war-passed\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T07:08:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T05:08:31","slug":"remembering-everything-how-four-years-of-the-great-war-passed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/remembering-everything-how-four-years-of-the-great-war-passed\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering everything: how four years of the Great War passed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, February 24, marks four years since Russian troops launched a large-scale offensive against Ukraine. The Kremlin leadership had hoped for quick success, but it encountered resistance that was unexpected neither in Moscow nor in the world. The aggression, which began in 2014, has escalated into a sharp phase with massive missile strikes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Russians were counting on a lightning-fast takeover of Ukraine, as they were convinced that the Ukrainians were waiting for the Russians with bread and salt. But in fact, from the first hours of the invasion, the aggressor’s army met fierce resistance not only from the fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard, but also from ordinary citizens united in territorial defense units, volunteer formations of territorial communities, and volunteer organizations.<\/p>\n

The resistance of the civilian population became a real challenge for the occupiers. Residents of Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions stopped the equipment with their bare hands, and in Kherson, Energodar and Melitopol people went out for weeks to protest under Ukrainian flags. In large cities, such as Kyiv or Odesa, citizens massively prepared means to repel the enemy.<\/p>\n

Huge lines formed in front of military registration and enlistment offices across the country. Both experienced soldiers and very young volunteers joined the defense of the state, which became a symbol of national unity in the fight for independence.<\/p>\n

Many politicians and diplomats around the world, either out of ignorance or intentionally, date the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war to February 24, 2022. However, Russia’s armed attack on Ukraine using regular ground forces and irregular armed formations began eight years earlier, in the second half of February 2014.<\/p>\n\n

2022. Blitzkrieg fails in three days<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Russian leadership expected a quick victory and the capture of the Ukrainian capital within three to five days of the start of the full-scale invasion. The aggressor directed the main forces towards Kyiv, trying to capture strategic facilities, in particular the Gostomel airfield, using landings and heavy equipment from the Chernobyl zone.<\/p>\n

The enemy was convinced that there would be no resistance from the local population. However, instead of support, the invaders met resistance not only from regular units, but also from ordinary citizens who massively joined the ranks of territorial defense and volunteer organizations.<\/p>\n

The fighting in the Kyiv region became decisive for the fate of the capital. Although the enemy columns managed to reach Bucha, further advance was stopped thanks to the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The inability to break through the defense forced the Russian command to completely withdraw its units from the region at the end of March.<\/p>\n\n

2022. The “Northern Fortress” has survived<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Resistance from residents of the northern regions of Ukraine became a critical factor that prevented the occupiers from establishing logistics for an attack on the capital. In Chernihiv region, the invaders tried to use the Novi Yarylovychi-Chernihiv highway as the main artery for transferring troops, but were met with mass protests and ambushes.<\/p>\n

A special role in deterring the enemy was played by the inhabitants of Kolychivka, which remained the only connection between Chernihiv and the controlled territories. After the destruction of the last bridge across the Desna, the city was on the verge of disaster, but did not surrender. In Sumy region, the situation developed according to a similar scenario, where the landmines and villagers blocked the movement of the aggressor’s equipment.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the actions of the Defense Forces and the activity of the population, the enemy suffered significant losses in equipment and fuel. This forced the Russian group “Center” to completely leave the territory of Sumy and Chernihiv regions in early April, retreating beyond the state border.<\/p>\n\t\t