Global armed conflicts reach highest level since World War II

The contemporary world is experiencing one of its most complex security periods since the end of World War II. Data from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) indicates that in 2025, there were 65 armed conflicts involving sovereign states, the highest number recorded in the series since 1946. Approximately 244,600 people have died in organized violence, with the war in Ukraine identified as the deadliest conflict of the year.

Global instability is being driven by a network of interconnected conflicts, including tensions in the Middle East, China-Taiwan relations, and increasing military cooperation between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Experts warn that modern warfare—utilizing drones, cyberattacks, and economic warfare—can rapidly transform local disputes into phenomena with global consequences.

In Europe, the Russian invasion of Ukraine remains the primary military conflict. While Russia cites the protection of ethnic Russians and security concerns regarding Ukraine’s Western ties as motivations, Ukraine continues to fight for its territorial integrity and its right to pursue independent political and security orientations through the European Union and NATO.