Ukraine War Costs, Sanctions, and Casualties Reshape Daily Life Inside Russia
Yelets, Russia: Four years into the Ukraine war, the impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion is increasingly visible far beyond the battlefield. In towns like Yelets, 350km south of Moscow, signs of the prolonged conflict are etched into daily life from military recruitment billboards to rising prices and air raid shelters.
What the Kremlin once expected to be a short military campaign has turned into a grinding war of attrition, with deep economic strain and mounting casualties.
Murals of the Fallen
In Yelets, a large mural on a residential building honors five local soldiers killed in Ukraine. The slogan above them reads: “Glory to the heroes of Russia!”
While Moscow does not release official casualty figures, independent estimates suggest heavy battlefield losses. Cemeteries across Russia have expanded, with new sections dedicated to those killed in what the Kremlin still calls a “special military operation.”
Irina, a bus station worker, says several people she knows have died in the fighting.
“Lots of people have been killed. I feel sorry for these lads,” she says, yet she does not openly criticize the war. “In the Great Patriotic War, we knew what we were fighting for. I’m not sure what we’re fighting for now.”
War Comes Closer to Home
Although Yelets lies hundreds of kilometers from the front line, the war feels closer than ever. The Lipetsk region has been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks, prompting authorities to install concrete air raid shelters in parks and near bus stops.
Sirens, residents say, sound almost nightly.
Symbols of the war are visible everywhere. Businesses display the letters “Z” and “V”, which have become emblems of Russian military operations. Political slogans echo statements by President Vladimir Putin, who has framed the war as a defense against Western aggression.
Rising Prices and Economic Strain
The longer the Ukraine war drags on, the heavier the Russia economy burden becomes.
To fund military spending, the government raised VAT from 20% to 22%, saying additional revenue would go toward “defence and security.” But for small businesses and pensioners, the increase has deepened financial hardship.
At a bakery in Yelets, owner Anastasiya Bykova says higher taxes and utility costs have forced her to raise prices.
“Our utility bills, rent, and taxes have all gone up,” she explains. “If small businesses close, what’s left? Just a dark grey patch.”
Pensioner Ivan Pavlovich complains about rising costs but remains supportive of the war effort.
“If I was younger, I’d go and fight,” he says. “Of course, we’d live more comfortably if there was no special operation. But we need to help.”
A War Without Clear End
Launched on 24 February 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was widely seen as an attempt to reassert influence over Kyiv and reshape Europe’s security order. Instead, it has become Europe’s longest and most destructive conflict since World War II.
Despite economic stagnation and budget deficits, public dissent remains muted. Many Russians express frustration about inflation and falling living standards, but few believe they can influence political decisions.
As the conflict enters its fifth year, optimism is scarce. In towns like Yelets, people are adjusting to a new normal defined by war casualties, drone sirens, and economic pressure waiting, and hoping, for better times.