Ukraine conflict fatigue grows as talks drag on and survival continues

As diplomats trade proposals and talk of ceasefires, Russia's offensive in Ukraine grinds relentlessly towards a grim milestone: nearly four years of conflict.

In Kyiv, the morning rush looks familiar. Commuters hurry through the streets, clutching coffee cups and scrolling through phones that buzz with air-raid alerts. Most glance, then carry on. This is life now — stay alert, change plans, keep moving.

Talks about peace may be making headlines, but for Ukrainians, peace isn't something you read about. It's something you live — or don't.

"We're ready to discuss even controversial plans because we need peace," says Ivan Us, a senior consultant. "But it has to be just. We are not ready to capitulate."

On the ground, stability feels far away. Evacuations from frontline towns are stalling as danger intensifies. In Pokrovsk, aid workers say security risks have shut down evacuation routes entirely.

"The situation is critical," explains NGO supervisor Evgenya Pinchuk. "Teams can't get in, and people aren't leaving those settlements."

Closer to the front, fear is constant. A resident of Pokrovsk describes life under near-daily drone attacks.

"You go to bed wondering if your window will be hit," she says. "It's intense from morning to evening. We're being shelled too."

'Everything suffers'

Families pack bags and move where they can, often staying inside Ukraine, searching for places that feel marginally safer. Sirens wail. Damaged buildings stand as reminders that nowhere is truly secure.

And then there are the power outages.

Russia's strikes on energy infrastructure have turned electricity and heating into daily uncertainties, especially with winter tightening its grip.

"Energy is targeted because it affects everyday life immediately," says energy analyst Hennadi Ryabtsev. "When power and heat are unstable, everything suffers including services, confidence, and people's sense of security."

In Zaporizhzhia, residents brace themselves after every explosion.

"When strikes happen, you wonder: will the lights go out?" says local resident Olena Musher. "Will the heating stop? Nights are restless. You're always preparing."

As negotiations continue far from the frontlines, Ukrainians measure progress differently. Not in statements or summits, but whether the lights stay on, the heat keeps running, and the night passes quietly.