Another New Year at war: Ukrainian troops brace for long conflict Article by The New York Times

As midnight approached on New Year’s Eve, Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines faced 2026 not with celebration but vigilance. In a command post bristling with screens, an officer known by the call sign Sam monitored drones scanning for Russian forces, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. For Sam and his battalion, the “Da Vinci Wolves,” the transition to a new year was just another day amid an unending conflict, The New York Times writes.

The soldiers’ focus is survival rather than resolutions. “It’s hard to make any plans,” Sam said when asked what 2026 would hold. Many of his comrades share this outlook, having endured nearly four years of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The war shows no signs of slowing, and Ukrainian forces anticipate it continuing well into the coming years.

The past year demonstrated the war’s evolving dynamics. Drones have become a dominant force on the battlefield, exposing troop movements and raising the stakes for every operation. Russian forces shifted from large-scale offensives to smaller, more mobile units, while Ukraine, often outnumbered, has maintained a defensive posture. Analysts note that despite slow front-line progress, Russian advances since the summer accelerated in ways that appear to bolster President Vladimir V. Putin’s negotiating leverage.

Putin repeatedly urged Kyiv to yield territory in Donetsk, the focal point of eastern fighting. Russian forces pushed forward into Pokrovsk, prompting Ukraine to redirect troops to defend remaining strongholds. This redeployment, soldiers and analysts say, created openings for Russian advances in southern Zaporizhzhia and eastern Dnipro. “They said they only needed the Donetsk region, yet look how many kilometres they’ve taken in the Dnipro region already,” said a soldier from Ukraine’s 68th Jager Brigade, identified only by his call sign Dyak.

Peace negotiations have offered little reassurance. Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump set deadlines for Ukraine to agree to a peace proposal, only to later abandon them, while Mr. Putin has shown no indication of ending the war, instead hardening demands. Ukrainian troops, however, remain steadfast. “We want a full victory — to take back all of Donbas,” said a drone pilot, call sign Shanghai, dismissing territorial concessions.

Life on the front line continues with grim routines. Soldiers rotate through reconnaissance flights, strikes, and supply runs, often under heightened Russian activity around key holidays. Returning from a rotation, Chernihiv, 35, prioritised a shower and a shave, while Price, 26, sought KFC, underscoring the small comforts that punctuate the relentless pace.

In the command centre, a modest New Year’s meal of mackerel, sausage, cheese, and non-alcoholic champagne offered brief respite. Maj. Serhii Filimonov, the battalion commander, acknowledged the hardship but highlighted that Russian forces failed to secure major objectives, such as Pokrovsk. “When we see the state of the enemy and their actions, it gives us faith that everything will be OK,” he said.

For soldiers like Filimonov, the personal cost is profound. He hopes the war ends before his young children grow up, sparing them from conscription. Even as Ukraine’s president addressed the nation on television, front-line troops remained focused on their screens. Midnight brought a quiet toast and radio messages urging them to hold the line. “Happy New Year,” they heard. “Keep holding the line, guys. Keep holding the line.”

By Jeyhun Aghazada