Ukrainians reflect on four years of war
Newshour
BBC
4.2 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 24 February 2026
⏱️ 48 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
It's officially four years since the war in Ukraine began. One of the striking things that has happened to mark it has been a united statement of encouragement for Ukraine from leaders of the G7 group of countries, including the US. We hear from a Ukrainian mother and son about the impact of four years of war on their lives and the decisions they've made.
Also in the programme: Russian dissidents tell the BBC they’ve seen fellow troops executed on commanders’ orders during the conflict; a look at what might be coming up in President Trump’s State of the Union address; and why a nineteenth-century Ghanaian artefact is being kept from public view.
(Photo: People take part in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine to mark the fourth anniversary of the start of the war, in Zurich, Switzerland, 24th February 2026. Credit: Andreas Becker/EPA/Shutterstock)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:09.4 | Hello and welcome to NewsHour. It's coming to you live from the BBC World Service studios in central London. |
| 0:15.2 | I'm Tim Franks. We're going to spend a fair bit of time today talking about and hearing from Ukraine, |
| 0:21.8 | because on this day, exactly four years ago, the Russian army, Navy and Air Force |
| 0:26.6 | tried to seize control of all of Ukraine. |
| 0:31.0 | At the time, most outside observers thought that was actually rather likely, |
| 0:34.8 | given the might and the size of the Russian military. |
| 0:37.7 | But Ukraine fought back, and despite enormous battlefield losses |
| 0:41.7 | and the misery inflicted by Russia's daily bombardments across the country, |
| 0:46.9 | Ukraine continues to resist. |
| 0:49.4 | One of the striking things that has happened today |
| 0:52.0 | has been a united statement of encouragement for Ukraine |
| 0:55.4 | from leaders of the G7 group of countries. |
| 0:58.9 | Striking because that means that Donald Trump has signed onto a statement saying, |
| 1:03.9 | we the G7 leaders reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity |
| 1:11.6 | and its freedom, sovereignty and independence. |
| 1:15.5 | Among those Western leaders showing support by actually being in Kiev today |
| 1:19.5 | was the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. |
| 1:23.5 | This morning we honoured your fallen at the People's Memorial in Maidan Square. |
| 1:31.3 | And today I'm also thinking of their comrades bravely holding the line in the trenches. |
| 1:40.3 | They fight for peace. They fight for a better future for their children. They fight for peace, they fight for a better future for their children, they fight for a simple dream of a free and sovereign Ukraine at the heart of a free Europe. |
| 1:54.8 | So let me conclude by saying to them, Europe will stand by you and stand with you until you have made that dream come true. |
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