AEGEE-Europe in Full Solidarity with Ukraine as Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion Enters Its Fifth Year
On 24 February 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As this unprovoked war of aggression against the Ukrainian people turns into its fifth year, we again join the voices demanding peace, justice, territorial integrity, and a European future for Ukraine. On this day, it is also important to remember that this war is a continuation of violence by Russia, which lasted over four years. The illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 already showed that Russia disregards Ukraine’s right to self-determination. We stand in full solidarity with Ukraine, particularly Ukrainian youth.
As AEGEE-Europe, we are alarmed by the findings stated in the latest ODIHR reports documenting the sharp escalation of civilian harm in Ukraine. HRMMU verified that conflict-related violence in Ukraine in 2025 killed 2,514 civilians and injured 12,142. According to the latest UN reports, First-Person View (FPV) drones have become the leading cause of civilian deaths and injuries near the frontline. Civilian casualties caused by short-range drones increased by 120% in 2025, resulting in 577 people being killed and 3,288 injured. Documented incidents include strikes on civilian vehicles, homes, humanitarian evacuation teams, and medical transport. As the Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has warned, the scale and pattern of these FPV drone attacks indicate that, in some instances, they appear to have been deployed in ways that intentionally targeted civilians or civilian objects, which would amount to war crimes. The continued rise in civilian deaths demands urgent international attention and immediate steps to ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law.
Russia does not just harm civilians through direct attacks, but interferes with every aspect of life in Ukraine: Ever since the full-scale invasion began, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure. One of the most horrendous of these attacks was the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in Kherson Oblast on June 6, 2023, leading to the release of 20 cubic kilometers of water, flooding over 80 settlements and drowning hundreds. According to the Ukrainian energy think tank Green Deal Ukraina, Russia has destroyed or damaged around two-thirds of Ukraine’s electricity generating capacity, dropping it from 40 GW before the invasion, to merely 12 GW at present. Recently, this terror campaign included launching 4,442 drones and 135 missiles amidst the coldest January Ukraine has seen in over a decade. A majority of this was focused on energy infrastructure, depriving millions of heat, electricity, and water in temperatures reaching -20°C.
The war does not impact all Ukrainians in the same way. We particularly call attention to the special and leading role that women and girls play in the war, as they deal with gender-based violence, relocation, and double-burden of work. Their contribution in these demanding times, both on the battlefield and in humanitarian positions, continues to inspire us. Furthermore, AEGEE expresses its solidarity and compassion with Ukrainian children and youth. We are horrified by reports that estimate that 35 000 Ukrainian children remain missing, possibly constituting a war crime. Even those who were not abducted from their families were forced to grow up early, being deprived of a carefree childhood. The irreversible impact of Russia’s actions on this vulnerable group of the population is a tragedy. With regards to the future, we point out that both Ukrainian women and Ukrainian youth voices must be actively involved.
“Four years is long enough for teens to grow into adults, however, for Ukrainian teens, their youth was taken away the second the war started. No matter if they stayed or had to leave, they lost the “home” they knew, their friends and sometimes family; their carefree life with dreams about the future turned into survival in the unknown and uncertain.
Not by choice, but Ukrainian youth went through things many others didn’t have to, things that made them both broken, stronger and different, with a unique perspective in life. That’s why their voices are so important, and can’t be ignored.”
– Diana, Ukrainian Youth Voice
The past year has seen several initiatives for peace talks. Recent talks in the United Arab Emirates and in Switzerland have ended without specific results or a meaningful breakthrough that give hope for real peace in Ukraine. While the delegations said they would meet again, they did not provide a new date. We strongly criticise that Russian negotiators insist on claiming the entire Donetsk region, despite 20% of the territory remaining outside their military control. Russian carelessness about the continuation of the war, including the loss of thousands of lives, is unacceptable.
In this context, we reaffirm that under no circumstances must Ukraine be put in a position to cede territory that is illegally annexed by the Russian Federation. Ukraine should not be forced to accept a peace that falls short of viable security guarantees and justice for Russia’s action. We stress that Ukraine’s demands must be respected and supported by its European allies. It must be clear that peace plans cannot be successful if Ukraine’s self determination is not respected, and that the future of Ukraine can only be defined by the Ukrainian people itself.
As European Union officials, including Ursula von der Leyen, have stated, Ukraine’s future is in the EU, making commendable progress as a candidate country albeit simultaneously fighting at war. We strongly commend the reforms taking place and reaffirm that Ukraine and its youth belong to the European family. We also call on all European actors to accompany Ukraine’s path to membership in a united and productive way, and we condemn countries that continuously veto loans for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. Ukraine must be able to count on its European partners in times in which other partners’ behaviour fluctuates. From East to West, Europe has no choice but to actively stand united and realize that the aggressor in the conflict is the Russian Federation. AEGEE-Europe reiterates its full commitment in supporting Ukraine on their path and calls on all actors to do the same. A strong and independent European future cannot exist without joint and determined support for Ukraine.
Written by Charlotte Burkhard, Leon Kogel and Nathan Kogel, members of the Help Ukraine Task Force of AEGEE-Europe.
Sources:
Carr, Kalynych, Meissner, Mikhnych, Stubbe, Zachmann. Green Deal Ukraina.(2025-2026). Electricity and Gas Supply in Ukraine: Winter 2025/2026 destroyed or damaged energy generating capacity of Ukraine https://greendealukraina.org/products/analytical-reports/winter-outlook-2025-26-jan-2026
Court, E. (2023, September 13). Von der Leyen: Future of Ukraine is in EU. The Kyiv Independent. https://kyivindependent.com/von-der-leyen-future-of-ukraine-is-in-eu/
Irynka Hromotska. (2024, June 6). Looking back at the Kakhovka Dam explosion one year later (Photos). The Kyiv Independent. https://kyivindependent.com/in-big-water-kakhovka-dam-destruction-photos/
Kumar, R. (2025, June 2). “Basically impossible to get them back”: Russia’s mass abduction of Ukrainian children is a war crime, say experts. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/27/russia-ukrainian-children-abduction-war-crime
Melkozerova, V. (2026, February 18). Surprise, surprise: Russia-Ukraine talks yield no peace breakthrough. POLITICO. https://www.politico.eu/article/surprise-surprise-russia-ukraine-talks-yield-no-peace-breakthrough/
Moffat, L. L. (2026, February 18). Chart of the week: Russia’s attacks push Ukraine’s energy system to the brink. The Kyiv Independent. https://kyivindependent.com/chart-of-the-week-russias-attacks-push-ukraines-energy-system-to-the-brink/
Monde, L. (2025, November 21). War in Ukraine: What we know about Donald Trump’s 28-point peace plan. Le Monde.fr; Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/11/21/war-in-ukraine-what-we-know-about-donald-trump-s-28-point-peace-plan_6747683_4.html
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. (2025, July 15). Seventh Interim Report on reported violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Ukraine. Osce.org. https://odihr.osce.org/odihr/594634
Tomko, Liliana (2025). Redefining Roles: How Russia’s War is Transforming Ukrainian Women’s Place in Society | Development Dispatch | CSIS. Center For Strategic and International Studies. https://www.csis.org/blogs/development-dispatch/redefining-roles-how-russias-war-transforming-ukrainian-womens-place
Ukrainer in English. (2024, March 8). Women at war • Ukraïner in English. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YepcuvWqhII
United Nations Human Rights Office of the Higher Commissioner. (2025). 2025 deadliest year for civilians in Ukraine since 2022, UN human rights monitors find | UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. Ohchr.org. https://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/2025-deadliest-year-for-civilians-in-Ukraine-since-2022-UN-human-rights-monitors-find
