As the clock struck midnight on 1/1/2026, Ukrainian officer, nicknamed Sam, kept his eyes fixed on a wall covered with monitoring screens. These were images sent from multiple unmanned aerial vehicles scouting Russian targets on the eastern front. "For us, it's no different. Just another day," Sam said. He commands a unit of the Da Vinci Wolves battalion, a seasoned Ukrainian force. For many of Sam's subordinates, New Year's Eve is not a time for setting grand new year's resolutions. "Next year's goal? Just to survive," a soldier stated. Sam admitted that "it's hard to make any plans" for 2026.

Ukrainian soldiers at a base in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, on 31/12. Photo: AFP

The Ukraine-Russia conflict is about to enter its fifth year, following Moscow's launch of the war in late February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his New Year's Eve address that Ukraine is "about 10%" away from a peace agreement with Russia, but noted that the two sides have not agreed on many key issues.

A few days prior, Zelensky announced a 20-point draft peace plan, agreed upon by Ukrainian and American delegations after multiple rounds of negotiations. The plan covers many issues, from post-conflict territory to the security guarantees Kyiv wishes to receive and a plan for Ukraine's national reconstruction. However, in the trenches of eastern Ukraine, few believe the conflict will end in 2026.

Since the summer of 2025, Russia has begun making faster advances on the battlefield. Analysts suggest this has made Russian President Vladimir Putin optimistic that Moscow holds the upper hand in negotiations. In his New Year's address, Putin called on the Russian people to believe in victory in Ukraine. The Russian leader has repeatedly implied that Kyiv should accept Moscow's demands before the situation worsens. One such demand is that Ukraine relinquish control of parts of Donetsk province, an area the Kremlin has long considered a key objective and declared annexed to Russia in September 2022.

In Donetsk, Russian forces have approached the city of Pokrovsk. Ukraine has been forced to deploy additional forces to hold the city and several neighboring towns, which are the last strongholds Kyiv controls in the region. However, this has created opportunities for the Russian army to advance elsewhere, such as in Zaporizhzhia province in the south and eastern Dnipro province. "They said just Donetsk, but look how many more kilometers they've advanced into Dnipro," said a soldier nicknamed Dyak. Dyak stated this is his fifth New Year in the military. The soldier is skeptical of current efforts to end the conflict and predicts the war will last at least two more years. "If Mr. Trump can end the fighting, do it quickly," he said.

Ukrainian soldiers observe unmanned aerial vehicles in the sky over Donetsk, Ukraine, on 30/12. Photo: AP

The White House chief initially set deadlines for Ukraine to accept the original 28-point peace proposal put forward by the United States: first before Thanksgiving, then before Christmas. But three days after Christmas, standing next to President Zelensky in Florida, Trump did not set any further timelines.

General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (GUR), warned last week that Russia's goal for 2026 is to seize all of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, and to advance further into Dnipro province. On New Year's Eve, the unmanned aerial vehicle teams commanded by Sam were trying to prevent that scenario. A soldier nicknamed Chernihiv noticed increased Russian activity leading up to the new year. "I don't know why. Perhaps they were ordered to secure some victory," he said.

At the command base, Sam and four others shared 12-hour shifts. The long table in the base was cleared of weapons and computers, replaced by plastic plates holding fish, cheese, and a few traditional Ukrainian dishes. Plastic cups, sparkling soft drinks, and a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne were also on the table. Major Serhii Filimonov, the battalion commander, stated that while this meal could not replace time with family on New Year's Eve, he wanted to bring some new year's spirit to the unit. "This has been a very difficult year. We are all tired," he said.

Thanh Tam (According to Kyiv Independent, AFP, Reuters)