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TRANSCRIPT:
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago.
And the deadliest European conflict since the Second World War is showing no signs of ending.
In the latest attack on the western city of Lviv, authorities say one police officer was killed and 24 other people were wounded after several explosive devices detonated at midnight.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls the attack a cruel terrorist act, saying the second explosion occurred after rescue teams had arrived.
"It is difficult to call it anything other than a cynical and cruel terrorist act. Two explosions, the second one when the rescuers arrived on site. Twenty-five people were wounded. Unfortunately one person, a policewoman, died. She was 23 years old – my condolences to friends and family. Now all who got injured are getting help. Among the wounded, there are some in critical condition. Doctors are doing all they can to save lives."
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies says the combined Russian and Ukrainian casualties may be as high as 1.8 million and could reach two million total casualties by this Autumn.
Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, Kateryna Argyrou, says Ukrainians are at a breaking point.
"It's a situation of four years of pain, despair and disbelief that war crimes can be committed like this on a daily basis and that the Russian Federation can be allowed to attack peaceful cities, civilians and critical infrastructure with no end in sight."
Ms Argyrou was in Ukraine last month visiting her family.
She says a harsh winter has been made much worse due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
"When I was there, it was minus 13. Since I left and over the past month, temperatures have dropped down to below minus 20. It's just bone chilling weather. Because of Russian missile strikes, drone strikes on Ukraine's energy grid, we have seen every single power plant across all of Ukraine hit and damaged or destroyed. It means that there is no heating in apartment buildings. There is no light. There is no running water. So people are really suffering on the ground."
United Nations spokesman Stéphane Dujarric says Ukrainian women have been particularly affected by these power cuts.
"UN Women noted that four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, millions in Ukraine struggle to keep the lights on and heat in their homes, with the crisis taking a particular toll on women. Many Ukrainian women work in sectors that are the hardest hit by extended power cuts, such as education, health, social services and retail, and they are now losing their jobs."
Many tributes are being held across Europe for the anniversary of the war, including this Ukrainian memorial for missing and captive soldiers in Turkish capital Istanbul.
And in the Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona, thousands of people opposed to the war have also marched.
“I’m here for all the people suffering in Ukraine. Many have lost their homes, their friends, their family. For all the men and women on the front who are fighting for our freedom and our rights.”
Pope Leo has also made an impassioned appeal for peace from the Vatican.
"Four years have now passed since the beginning of the war against Ukraine. My heart still goes out to the dramatic situation that is before everyone’s eyes. How many victims, how many lives and families destroyed, how much destruction, how much unspeakable suffering! Every war truly is a wound inflicted upon the entire human family."
With the violence unceasing across the country, Ukrainians themselves are desperate for an end to the four-year-old conflict.
However, ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine - mediated by the U-S - have failed to achieve significant progress with issues of territory remaining a key issue for both parties.
Ms Argyrou says Ukrainians are also not convinced that Russia would stay true to their word on a ceasefire.
"Russia cannot be trusted. They have absolutely zero desire for peace. They have absolute desire to destroy and wipe Ukraine off the face of the earth, and the only way that peace can be brought and just peace is if Russia is defeated on the battlefield and the Russians are forced to go home."
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko agrees, saying Australia, the U-S and European powers must unite to make Russia's war effort more costly.
"It's worse than it used to be even four years ago to be frank. But we can end this war together and the way to do it is to put more pressure on Putin. It is to increase the cost of war, make sure that Putin cannot sell its oil or gas at all. That's the way to do it. 30 per cent of the revenue for their budget is from oil. We just need to stop buying Russian oil entirely. When an aggressor is not punished for what they've done, other aggressors will follow the same road."
