Following exchanges with Russia, Ukraine regularly receives the bodies of fallen soldiers, often by the hundreds. The process of identifying them can take weeks, relying on DNA testing, forensic databases, and biological samples provided by family members.
More and more Ukrainians are returning from the war—veterans, displaced civilians, and those from front-line or formerly occupied areas. They need not only medical, but also psychological support. A careless word or intrusive question can reopen wounds.
What exactly is a Day of Mourning in Ukraine? Who has the authority to declare it, what rules apply, and why does it matter to society? Frontliner explains how both national and local mourning practices work to honor those lost in war.
Since the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the assault has gone beyond the destruction of Ukrainian towns and villages—it has targeted Ukraine’s future. As of 2025, more than 20,000 Ukrainian children are officially known to have been forcibly taken to the territory of Russia or temporarily occupied Crimea. These were not evacuations.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world. But in 1994, by signing the Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine voluntarily gave up all its nuclear weapons—in exchange for security assurances from the United States, the United Kingdom, and, notably, Russia. By 1996, the last warhead had left Ukrainian soil.
The streets are strewn with the bodies of killed civilians and littered with burnt iron, which Russian equipment has turned into. All around, battered houses have been destroyed. This is what Bucha looked like when the first journalists entered the city after its liberation from the occupiers on April 2, 2022. Among them was a Frontliner reporter who managed to get across the Romanivskyi Bridge.
Doctors in frontline Kharkiv report a shortage of blood for transfusions and are calling on residents to donate. The deficit could impact wounded soldiers on the front lines and civilians injured in daily shelling. The city's Blood Service supplies not only local hospitals but also frontline areas in the region. Since January 2025, it has also been providing blood to medical facilities in the Sumy region, according to Blood Service representative Valentyna Taran.
On Friday, March 7, 2025, the Russian army carried out three missile strikes on the city of Dobropillia in the Donetsk region.
Despite the United States pausing military aid to Ukraine, American-made artillery shells, surface-to-air missiles, air defense systems, ammunition, military vehicles, and electronic warfare equipment remain in active use on the front lines. Reporters from Frontliner spoke with Ukrainian soldiers to gather firsthand accounts of their experience using U.S.-supplied weapons. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, troops shared their feedback anonymously, offering insights into the effectiveness, strengths, and challenges of the equipment they rely on in combat.
The "Alcatraz" battalion, operating within the 93rd Mechanized Brigade "Kholodny Yar", is composed of former prisoners who have chosen to enlist in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Each of these men has a unique past, shaped by the criminal charges they once faced. Some served just a few months behind bars, while others spent a significant portion of their lives in prison.
After enduring months of brutal torture, men freed from Russian captivity are forced to continue battling for their survival. Many have returned to a life stripped of homes, money, and the care they should receive from the state. To support themselves and others like them, these former prisoners have come together to form a network called The Alumni.
During the full-scale war, the Russian army has regularly launched missile and drone strikes, devastating critical infrastructure and residential areas in Kyiv.
In a shift from traditional textbooks, young people are now attending monthly "Defense of Ukraine" classes, learning to fly drones, shoot, provide first aid, and more. To foster the spirit of national unity, various patriotic education centers are being established in Ukrainian cities. Have a look at the "Defense of Ukraine" classes in different regions in this photo report.
Kharkiv has been switching to its new life underground for almost two years of Russia’s full-scale war. Concerts, performances, and even school classes are held in basements and subway stations. Kharkiv children also get extracurricular education underground. Young dancers of the Happy Childhood dance ensemble, who used to watch the Freedom Square from their ballet halls before the war, moved to the basement.