If you turn on the news today, the maps look messy. You’ve probably seen the headlines about "peace plans" and "ceasefires," but for the people living in these zones, the ground truth is often much louder than the diplomats in Washington or Geneva. Honestly, trying to pin down exactly where is the war right now is like tracking a wildfire; it jumps, it smolders, and just when you think one corner is contained, the wind shifts.
As of mid-January 2026, we are in a strange, transitional period of global warfare. The big "industrial" wars like Ukraine have entered a grinding, slow-motion phase, while forgotten civil wars in places like Sudan have spiraled into the worst humanitarian disasters of our generation.
The Grind in Eastern Europe: Where Is the War Right Now?
Let's start with the big one. In Ukraine, the front lines haven't moved much in miles, but they’ve moved plenty in blood. According to the Russia Matters report from January 14, 2026, Russia currently occupies about 19.26% of Ukrainian territory. That’s roughly the size of Ohio.
It’s a slugfest.
Over the last month, Russian forces have been clawing away at tiny bits of land—gaining about 79 square miles in the last four weeks. That’s a significant drop from the 215 square miles they were taking monthly back in late 2025. It’s a war of "inches" now. You’ve got Russian troops pushing hard toward the limits of Zaporizhzhia, while Ukraine holds a tiny, 4-square-mile foothold in the Kursk and Belgorod regions of Russia.
- Casualties: The numbers are staggering. Former CIA Director William Burns mentioned in a recent interview that Russian casualties have likely crossed 1.1 million. Ukraine’s estimates sit around 400,000.
- The "Peace" Factor: There’s talk of a 28-point peace plan involving a freeze of the current lines. But here’s the kicker: Russia is still launching hundreds of drones a night. On January 13 alone, 293 drones targeted Kyiv and Odesa.
If you're asking where the war is in Ukraine, it’s currently a belt of fire stretching from the Donbas down to the southern marshes, with a relentless air war hitting the power grids in the north.
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The Middle East: Ceasefires on Paper, Fire on the Ground
In the Middle East, things are... complicated. It’s the only way to put it.
Gaza is supposed to be under a U.S.-brokered peace plan as of October, but if you look at the reports from January 12, the "peace" is incredibly fragile. Hamas is refusing to fully disarm, and Israel is hesitating on further withdrawals. It’s a standoff. Meanwhile, a technocratic committee led by Ali Shaath is trying to take the reins of government, but the streets of Gaza remain a landscape of ruin.
Then there's Iran.
Internal protests have been ripping through the country since late December 2025. What started as economic frustration has turned into a violent push for regime change. On January 14, the G7 even threatened more sanctions over the crackdown on these protesters. This matters because a distracted or crumbling Iranian regime changes the math for Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
Speaking of the Houthis, the UN just extended its monitoring of Red Sea attacks through July 2026. While the Russian Federation points out there hasn't been a major incident since September 2025, the U.S. and Greece are still on high alert. The threat hasn't vanished; it’s just holding its breath.
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The Forgotten Inferno: Sudan
While the world watches Ukraine, Sudan is actually the deadliest place on Earth right now.
We just passed the 1,000-day mark of this civil war. It is, without hyperbole, the largest displacement crisis in the world. About 13.6 million people have been forced from their homes. Think about that—that’s more than the entire population of Pennsylvania wandering with nowhere to go.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have consolidated control over most of Darfur and are now pushing into the oil-rich regions of Kordofan. They captured the Heglig oil field on December 8, which basically choked off the government's money.
"More people are living in famine conditions in Sudan than the rest of the world combined." — International Rescue Committee (IRC)
In places like Tawila, people are arriving after walking days through the desert at night to avoid militias. They describe paths littered with bodies. It’s a war of total state collapse, and as of January 2026, the World Food Programme is warning that they might have to cut rations entirely by April because the world simply isn't sending enough help.
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Southeast Asia: The "Sham" Election War
Myanmar is another spot where "where is the war right now" gets a messy answer.
The military junta is currently holding a three-phase election (the final phase is January 25, 2026) to try and look legitimate. The UN calls it a "theatrical performance."
The reality? War is raging across two-thirds of the country. The military uses daily airstrikes against resistance groups that are a mix of young activists and veteran ethnic militias. In cities like Yangon, things look "normal" on the surface, but there’s a quiet terror. Young people stay indoors, terrified of being conscripted into an army they hate.
Identifying the Global Pattern
When we look at where the war is right now across the globe, we see a few recurring themes that define 2026:
- Drone Dominance: Whether it’s the high-tech Shaheds in Ukraine or advanced drones appearing in the hands of Sudanese militias, the "cheap air force" has changed how territory is held.
- Fragmented Control: Gone are the days of clear "country vs. country" borders. In Myanmar, Sudan, and even parts of Syria, "the war" is a patchwork of neighborhoods and rural outposts held by dozens of different groups.
- Diplomatic Paralysis: Peace plans are being signed (Gaza, DRC), but they aren't sticking because the people on the ground don't trust the signatures on the paper.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for You
Staying informed is great, but the scale of these conflicts can feel paralyzing. Here is how to actually process this information and stay ahead of the curve:
- Diversify Your News Intake: If you only watch Western cable news, you're getting 90% Ukraine and Gaza. To understand the global "temperature," follow the ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project) or the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). They provide the granular, boring-but-true data that tells you where the front lines actually are.
- Watch the Supply Chains: The Red Sea isn't "fixed." If you see a spike in shipping costs or energy prices, it’s likely because the smoldering conflict in Yemen has flared up again. 2026 is a year where geoeconomics is the top risk.
- Vetting Donations: If you want to help in the high-conflict zones like Sudan or Myanmar, stick to organizations with deep, long-term local footprints like the International Rescue Committee (IRC) or Doctors Without Borders (MSF). In these "patchwork" wars, big aid convoys often get stuck; local networks are the only things that move.
- Acknowledge the Complexity: Don't fall for "good guy vs. bad guy" narratives in places like Sudan or the Sahel. These are often resource wars fueled by gold, oil, and ancient ethnic tensions. Understanding the "why" helps you see through the propaganda.
The global landscape in 2026 is one of "unsettled" peace and "grinding" war. While some major conflicts have slowed down, the sheer number of active fronts makes this one of the most volatile starts to a year in decades.