Squiz Today Four years of Russia's war in Ukraine, and Milan Fashion Week takes off
Feb 23, 2026
Coverage of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, focusing on human and financial costs and stalled peace talks. How Starlink outages changed battlefield targeting and recent frontline shifts. Rising cartel violence in Mexico after a leader’s death and travel warnings. A new UK passport rule sparks backlash. A preview of Milan Fashion Week and designers to watch.
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Human Cost Of Four Years Of War
- Russia's full-scale invasion has produced staggering human costs approaching 2 million casualties including wounded and missing.
- Andrew Williams and Alice Dempster cite estimates of about 1.2 million Russian and 600,000 Ukrainian casualties since 24 February 2022, plus huge financial costs.
Territorial Shifts Are Small And Slow
- The front lines have barely shifted despite years of fighting, with Russia taking around 4,500 sq km recently and occupying about 20% overall.
- The hosts compare 4,500 sq km to Kangaroo Island and note gains are slow and contested by varying think-tank counts.
Starlink Outages Affect Battlefield Operations
- Disruptions to satellite internet services can have immediate battlefield effects, as Starlink outages hindered Russian targeted strikes.
- Alice Dempster and Andrew Williams highlight a recent pause in Starlink access that slowed Russian operations.