On July 9, Russia launched 741 aerial weapons against Ukraine using 728 Shahed-type drones and decoys, seven Iskander cruise missiles, and six aeroballistic Kinzhal missiles. Each of these 741 weapons carries enough destructive power to level an average building. According to an Axios report, Russian President Vladimir Putin informed US President Donald Trump during a phone call on July 3 that he plans to escalate military operations in eastern Ukraine within the next 60 days, aiming to reach the administrative borders of the oblasts he claims to be Russian territory. These are very significant signs as Russia’s war on Ukraine continues.

It is important to note that international media has shifted attention away from publishing stories about heavy shellings of Ukrainian cities—which resulted in many casualties and destruction—to focusing more on political events. That is not because the number of attacks has decreased. On the contrary.

Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine have increased significantly since the start of the year, becoming daily occurrences in the last months and complicating the lives of residents considerably. People are forced to leave their houses and spend nights at the underground stations or shelters to avoid death in their own dwellings. Despite sleepless nights and relentless shellings that continue during the day, cities must continue to function, otherwise life will stop. While this sounds incredibly scary and difficult, it is much harder in real life.

There are no more “safe regions.” Western Ukraine (the oblasts of Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Ternopil, Chernivtsi, Volyn and Rivne) was considered relatively peaceful since the start of the war, due to its distance from the front lines. Now, western regions are suffering from air strikes, too. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that there are rehabilitation centres for wounded soldiers and shelters for families from occupied or frontline territories. No one is totally safe within the country. The slow, persistent advance of the Russian army at the front is another growing concern. It not only signals sustained pressure on Ukrainian defenses, but raises fears about potential territorial losses over time, and the future of the whole country.

Aside from aerial attacks and frontline updates, there are many other pressing issues, too. Displacement crises. Ukrainians, exhausted from constant danger and instability, are faced with several impossible options: moving within the country (quite complicated option, again, due to lack of security and housing crisis in western areas); moving to different countries (this is no longer much of an option with many countries closing their humanitarian visa programs); or trying to continue living as though nothing is happening. Those who choose to leave their region, or move out of Ukraine—rarely does anyone have many options during a war—face many difficulties in accessing housing, employment and education along their journeys.

According to experts, every month of the war, fewer and fewer people will return, which significantly increases the loss of human capital and threatens the country’s demographic future. Nevertheless, mobilization continues. Many of those called upon at the beginning of the war have been on the front lines for three uninterrupted years. They need replacements—that is, new soldiers must be mobilized. However, the longer the war continues, the smaller the number of volunteers. Amid this stark reality, mobilization increasingly relies on forced involvement, and creates a significant public concern that affects not only potential draftees, but Ukrainian society as a whole.

Returning to the June and July shellings, there were cases of hits on territorial recruitment and social support centers—military administration bodies responsible for military registration, mobilization and social support of conscripts. Public speculation about the goals of such strikes includes attempts to undermine mobilization and incite panic within society.

Costs also continue to rise. Essential items have become too expensive for average citizens as salaries and social payments (pensions, support for internally displaced persons, disability benefits, etc.) are not increasing at the same rate. According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, all products have risen in price since June 2024, some by two times, and some by 150-200%. This leads to even greater social tension as more and more people find themselves on the verge of financial ruin.

Considering the many other acute problems—such as power outages, destruction of infrastructure, constant pressure on emergency services, the mental health crisis, etc.—it can be emphasized that the situation remains dire. Political statements and fleeting initiatives—such as vague decisions about aid or arms supplies—leave citizens in limbo. Media speculation about hypothetical scenarios, like Russia seizing all Ukrainian territory or calculating how long it might take for Russia to overtake Ukraine at its current pace, frustrates and angers many Ukrainians. Ultimately, this fosters a sense of powerlessness in the face of war. While people both in Ukraine and abroad may say they’ve grown used to the situation and are coping with the war, it is neither as simple nor as easy as it may seem or be claimed.

The message is simple: war continues and is now more intense than ever before. It is more frightening than may appear. Ukrainians continue our fighting on all fronts, but Ukraine also needs support. Ukraine needs accountability. Ukraine needs freedom. Ukraine demands independence.