Drones, sirens, army posters: How four years of war changed a Russian cityVORONEZH, Russia, Feb 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A drone whirred through a shopping centre in the Russian city of Voronezh as Shaman, an operator for the Russian army, showed shoppers one of the devices that have dominated the battlefield in Ukraine. From frequent Ukrainian retaliatory drone attacks to army recruitment adverts around the city, the conflict has gradually seeped into daily life. In the city centre, murals honour soldiers killed on the battlefield. Tracking of local obituaries and family announcements by the BBC and independent Mediazona outlet has identified at least 168,000 Russian soldiers killed since Moscow launched its offensive. Amid the plethora of army posters across the city, there are some smaller signs that not everybody shares the patriotic pro-war fervour.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 18, 2026 16:15 UTC