The second year of the Russia-Ukraine conflict was characterized by an intense stalemate, with Russia’s pyrrhic territorial advances in stark contrast to Ukraine’s determined defense and marked by significant losses on both sides. Ukraine’s counteroffensive stumbled, leading to a defensive fallback amid heavy casualties and a change in overall military leadership. Russian domestic perceptions remained relatively stable with a firm majority supporting both President Vladimir Putin and the Special Military operation and just over half of Russians favoring a negotiated settlement. The war’s brutal toll, exacerbated by resource disparities and sustained by Western support for Ukraine, highlighted a grim picture of attrition without a clear path to victory or peace for either side.