January 18, 2026

Not Great, Maybe Patriotic, Definitely a War


Not Great, Maybe Patriotic, Definitely a War
Modern uniforms just aren't as stylish. The Russian Life files

On January 12, 2026, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine hit a new milestone: it had endured for three years, ten months, and eighteen days, one day longer than the fight against Nazi Germany from 1941-1945.

There are a couple of reasons why this milestone is significant.

First, at the very start of the war, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised a "three-day special military operation." Almost four years later, and the picture is very different. While over the course of the Second World War Russia took or retook 1.16 million square miles, in Ukraine, Russia has taken only 116,000 square miles (after its initial offensives were stopped in their tracks and the front line stabilized).

Second, Putin has often and repeatedly compared the current conflict to the near-mythological struggles of the Soviet Union against Hitler. While the Second World War, or, as Russians call it, the Great Patriotic War, pitted two world superpowers against each other and led to a stunning Soviet victory that gobbled up territory all the way to Berlin, today's grinding frontline in Ukraine has seen 400,000 Russian soldiers (that's the liberal estimate) killed for hardly any gain.

And so, these days, the comparison is starting to fall flat. And with no end in sight, who knows how much longer the war in Ukraine is set to grind on.

You Might Also Like

One for the Books
  • May 11, 2025

One for the Books

2024's Victory Day parade was a bit of a dud. 2025's more than made up for it.
Three Years, 95,000 Dead
  • February 23, 2025

Three Years, 95,000 Dead

Three years after the start of Russia's War on Ukraine, more than 95,000 Russian troops have died.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955