Russians Look to 2026: Hope, War, and an Uncertain Future

As the war in Ukraine approaches a fourth year, the BBC’s Russia Editor, Steve Rosenberg, traveled across the country to ask a simple question: What are you hoping for in 2026? The answers reveal a nation grappling with profound change. Interviews with ordinary Russians show a complex mix of resilience, weariness, and adaptation to a new reality shaped by international isolation and a prolonged military conflict. Many express hope for a return to normalcy and economic stability. Others focus on personal goals for their families, separating their private aspirations from the state of world affairs. The "special military operation," as the war is officially termed in Russia, remains a constant backdrop. Rosenberg’s conversations highlight a society where official narratives and personal daily life increasingly intersect. With the conflict’s end not in sight, the hopes for 2026 provide a window into how Russians are enduring a period of historic uncertainty.