After another year of war, the Ukrainian military doubts that peace will come in 2026

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For many soldiers in his battalion, known as the “Da Vinci Wolves,” this was not the time to make wishes or resolutions. Russian forces are advancing, recent peace talks have reached no conclusions and they do not see an end to the war in sight. For the new year, one soldier said the goal was simply to survive.

— It’s difficult to make plans, — admitted the officer, who goes by the nom de guerre Sam.

This will be the fourth year of the Russian invasion. Few soldiers in eastern Ukraine believe the latter.

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In early 2025, United States President-elect Donald Trump said he could end the war in 24 hours. In February, Trump humiliated Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, threatening to cut aid and displaying what many in kyiv see as open sympathy for Moscow.

The following months were full of ups and downs. Negotiations began and ended without success. Relations between the United States and Ukraine have had good times and bad. At the same time, the war evolves. Drones dominate the battlefield, making troop movements more dangerous. Russian forces began using smaller groups in their attacks. Ukraine, even in the minority, was forced to adapt and remain on the defensive.

The front line moved slowly, without the same attention given to diplomacy. In a long and bloody way, the calculus favored Russian forces, which have begun to advance more quickly in recent months. Analysts say this convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin that he had the stronger hand at the negotiating table.

He reiterated that Ukraine must comply with his demands before the war worsens further. Among them, the cession of the territories that kyiv still controls in the east, a priority objective of the Kremlin.

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Russian forces in the east marched towards Pokrovsk. The Ukrainians retreated and used their forces to defend the city and neighboring areas, which are still under their control. Analysts say the move gave the Russians an opportunity to advance more quickly in other areas, such as the Zaporizhia region to the south. The same thing happened in Dnipro, said a soldier from a brigade that operated in the region on the last day of 2025.

— They say they only need the Donetsk region, but look how much they have conquered in Dnipro — said the soldier, who identified himself only by his nom de guerre Dyak, referring to the Russians.

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Standing by a small stove, Dyak said his New Year, his fifth in the military, didn’t feel like a vacation but simply “the end of the month.” He has no confidence in recent peace efforts, saying the war will last at least two more years.

— If Trump can end the war, let him do it faster — he added.

Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov warned last week that Russia’s goal for 2026 is the complete conquest of the Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions. Moscow also wants to advance as much as possible in the Dnipro region, the military official told the Suspline portal.

On New Year’s Eve, drone teams commanded by Sam, heading towards Novopavlivka, were trying to stop this. Around 7 p.m. there was a lot of activity, with attacks and supply transports. Alongside the officer were four other soldiers, working 12-hour shifts. When one of them arrived at the end of his workday, his colleague asked him questions about the environment.

“It’s not very good,” he replied. — See you next year.

Shortly after, the long table in the command center was cleared of weapons and computers. Small plates of marinated fish, sausages, cheese, cabbage and other Ukrainian dishes were served, along with cups and a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling wine.

Serhii Filimonov, battalion commander, said that while the meal does not replace a dinner with friends or family, he wanted to bring some comfort to the command post. He said it had been a difficult year for the Ukrainian army and “we are all tired.”

However, he added that it was important to remember that Russia had not achieved its main goals by 2025, such as capturing Pokrovsk and other cities.

— When we see the state of the enemy and his actions, it gives us confidence that everything will be fine, — he said.

But he did not want to make any resolutions, saying that developing long-term plans in the midst of war was a “sore subject” for Ukrainians. Filimonov has two children, an eight-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl, who are “growing up without him.”