Kyiv, Ukraine – A minute of silence held in the centre of Kyiv today, marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, was a stark reminder of the conflict’s enduring human cost. European prime ministers and dignitaries joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska in Maidan Square, placing candles before a growing memorial of crosses, photographs, and flags commemorating the tens of thousands of soldiers who have died.
Despite the show of international solidarity, a sense of protracted conflict permeated the event. Leaders arriving in Ukraine acknowledged the likelihood of returning for similar commemorations in the years to approach, reflecting a grim expectation that a resolution remains distant.
Yvette Cooper, the UK’s Foreign Secretary, used the visit to highlight what she described as a deliberate Russian campaign targeting Ukrainian women and children, and a broader assault on Ukrainian culture. “It’s an attempt really, not just about territory, but to have a war on Ukrainian families, to have war on Ukraine history and culture and identity,” she said.
Cooper’s trip coincided with a domestic political issue: the arrest and questioning of former British Ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson. Cooper, who dismissed Mandelson just days after taking office in September, reiterated her belief that his appointment was a mistake. She revealed the existence of “vile” emails exchanged between Mandelson and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including one in which Epstein inquired about the sensation of freedom from jail, to which Mandelson responded by calling him a “naughty boy.”
“That’s just vile,” Cooper told reporters. “It makes me feel so angry. I’ve been really clear, Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed as ambassador to the US and I feel some of what has been so, so deeply frustrating about all of this is that really at the heart of all of these should be the victims of Epstein, they’re women and children who faced the most horrendous criminal exploitation trafficking and that really should be the focus.”
Cooper emphasized her commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, both domestically and internationally, a theme she connected to the plight of Ukrainian women and children impacted by the war. Her visit included meetings with female victims of Russian aggression and sexual violence, as well as representatives from the “Voices for Children” charity, alongside Olena Zelenska.
Civil rights activist Yevgen Zakharov, of the Civil Liberties Centre, told Cooper that Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants to eliminate Ukrainian identity,” alleging a “genocidal intent.” Accounts gathered during the visit detailed widespread abuses in Russian-occupied territories, including beatings, sexual assault, false imprisonment, and forced labour. Elena Jagapova recounted being taped to a chair, beaten, sexually abused, and sent to a labour camp. Another woman, identified only as Julia, described the abduction of her children, aged 10 and 17, and a 19-month struggle to secure their return.
Olena Zelenska stated that over 20,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia, as part of what she described as a campaign to suppress Ukrainian culture through language repression, indoctrination, and attempts at brainwashing.
Cooper said it was vital to support Ukrainian families and services, and to pursue international legal mechanisms to address these alleged crimes, including the establishment of special tribunals and international court processes.
The UK government announced a new package of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, and is urging the United States and European Union to adopt a maritime services ban aimed at disrupting Russia’s ability to transport oil via its shadow fleet. While, frustration remains over the US reluctance to impose more aggressive economic measures, particularly in light of reported US consideration of accepting Russian demands for Ukraine to cede control of territory in the Donbas region as part of any potential truce.
While Ukraine hopes that a high rate of Russian casualties – potentially 50,000 per month – will force Putin to consider conscription and potentially stall his momentum, the conflict remains locked in an attritional phase. Russia has reportedly suffered an estimated 500,000 casualties in exchange for gaining less than one per cent of Ukrainian territory.
Britain and Europe continue to press for increased US sanctions, aiming to financially weaken Russia’s war effort. However, despite the displays of solidarity, concrete steps towards peace remain elusive, and Ukraine is bracing for the possibility of further anniversaries marked by continued conflict.
