War and Armed Conflicts – the Consequences for Humanity

August 14, 2026

Wars and armed conflicts do not solve problems. They bring riches to dictators, despots, and arms manufacturers and the companies and individuals that sell missiles, attack drones, bombs, and assault rifles.  To everyone else in war-torn areas, war brings pain, famine, starvation, lost limbs, lost loved ones, and unimaginable suffering. Long term conflicts mean that many of the children born may never know peace during their formative years.

Although a person gives the command and another person locks in a “target” and executes the command, it is no longer necessary to look into the eyes of the “enemy” to kill someone or hundreds of people. Massive casualties result from drone strikes and bombings.

“Armed conflict is now a defining feature of our time. Across continents, the rules and limits that should protect civilians in war are being stretched, ignored or dismantled. Conflicts are spreading, lasting longer, and becoming more complex. Civilians – the very people international humanitarian law exists to protect – are those who suffer the most” (ICRC, 2025, November 12).

“A daily reality of living with war

The number of armed conflicts continues to climb, reaching around 130 in 2024 – more than double the number just 15 years ago. Over 20 conflicts have lasted for more than two decades, leaving entire generations who have known nothing but war.

Front lines today stretch across physical and digital worlds. The use of drones, artificial intelligence and cyber operations is accelerating and transforming the conduct of hostilities, too often with devastating effects on civilians. More than 204 million people now live in areas under the full or contested control of armed groups – beyond the reach of state institutions and basic services.

The consequences are severe:

• Homes, hospitals, schools and water systems are destroyed.
• Livelihoods collapse, displacing millions.
• Families are torn apart: 284,000 people are registered as missing by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – a 70% increase in just one year” (ICRC, 2025, November 12).

International Committee of the Red Cross (2025, November 12). Humanitarian Outlook 2026: A world succumbing to war

How Winnable are Wars Today?

From the beginning of time, humans have been killing and maiming other humans over resources that may or may not be scarce. Countless armed disputes have resulted in takeovers of border areas and entire countries. Historically, many wars have started over:

• Power
• Land for consolidation of power
• Land for food production
• Religious differences
• Women for reproduction
• Slave workers.
• Water
• Energy sources
• Money or money equivalents
• Gold
• Precious metals
• Diamonds and precious gems
• Raw materials used in weapon manufacture.

Historically borders of various countries have changed over and over and countless people have lost their lives in sacrifice to the whims of an autocrat in a fight to glean even greater power and control. Dictators and despots who start a war today do not usually participate in the actual fighting.

As discussed in Russian Blood and Treasure, Jones and McCabe (2026) the Russian invasion of Ukraine has not resulted in the short term take over that Putin expected.

Putin’s War

“First, Russian battlefield costs continue to mount, with
as many as 450,000 battlefield deaths and 1.4 million casualties
between February 2022 and June 2026. These rates
are astounding. Russian fatalities in Ukraine are more than
four times greater than all U.S. fatalities in all wars combined
since World War II, and more than nine times greater
than all Soviet and Russian fatalities in all wars combined
since World War II.

In addition, Russia’s monthly casualty rates of over
30,000 per month in 2026 have likely exceeded Russia’s
recruitment rates of roughly 27,000 new recruits per
month.”

“Russia’s ground offensive has largely stalled, with an average rate of advance of approximately 50 meters per day around Kostiantynivka, 70 meters per day around Pokrovsk, and 90 meters per day around Sloviansk. These are among the slowest rates of advance in any war over the last century.”

“RUSSIAN CASUALTIES AND FATALITIES
According to CSIS estimates, Russian forces suffered approximately 1.4 million battlefield casualties—including killed, wounded, and missing soldiers—between February 2022 and June 2026, as highlighted. Russian forces suffered between 400,000 and 450,000 fatalities during this
same period.”

“Ukrainian forces have suffered somewhere between 525,000 and
625,000 casualties (killed, wounded, and missing) and
between 125,000 and 150,000 fatalities between February
2022 and June 2026.”

“According to some estimates, over 90 percent of Russian casualties are from drone attacks rather than a result of human-to-human engagements.”

Jones, S. G., McCabe, R. (2026). Russian blood and treasure: The ballooning cost of Putin’s war. Center for Strategic National Studies (CSIS).