Why don't countries easily start wars? Take a look at the astronomical bill, and you'll understand.

With advancements in technology and the deepening of globalization, the form of modern warfare has undergone a dramatic transformation compared to the past.

Today, war is no longer just a military conflict, but a comprehensive economic and social disaster.

Although tensions flare up in various parts of the world from time to time, most countries are unwilling to provoke war.

This is not only due to the military losses in war, but also because of the enormous economic burden and social destruction it brings, especially in modern warfare, where all losses tend to be heavy and difficult to recover.

In February 2022, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out, and it has now lasted for more than three years.

As one of the most iconic wars in modern history, the Russo-Ukrainian War has provided many countries with a great deal of reflection, especially profound lessons on the cost of war.

From an economic perspective, the war has caused severe economic losses to both countries.

Ukraine, as the primary battlefield, has borne far greater direct economic losses than Russia.

According to the economic database Statista, by February 2023, Ukraine's direct economic losses had exceeded $210 billion.

This number not only reflects the property losses during the battles but also the social chaos and people's suffering caused by the war.

Ukraine's GDP in 2022 dropped by 30% compared to the previous year, which was catastrophic for a country already facing economic challenges.

The unemployment rate surged, and inflation reached 28%.

These were direct economic burdens caused by the war, and more seriously, after the war ends, Ukraine will need decades to rebuild.

The United Nations and the World Bank have predicted that Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction costs could reach $349 billion.

Considering the current ongoing conflict, this figure is expected to rise even further.

Even more tragically, in addition to material losses, some of Ukraine's cultural heritage, such as monuments and museums, have been destroyed in ways that cannot be measured in monetary terms.

The loss of these cultural assets means that a nation's history and culture are experiencing irreplaceable damage.

From a military perspective, the equipment losses in modern warfare far exceed those in past wars.

With technological advancements, the weapons and equipment used in modern wars are extremely expensive.

In the Russo-Ukrainian War, both sides have invested heavily in high-tech military equipment, and the losses of these items have become a huge economic burden for both countries.

The Dutch open-source intelligence organization Oryx publicly reported that by the first anniversary of the war, the Russian army had lost over 9,000 pieces of military equipment, including more than 2,000 armored vehicles, 1,000 artillery systems, and over 5,000 main battle tanks.

Ukraine’s losses were similarly severe, with more than 3,000 pieces of registered equipment completely destroyed, not including the large amounts of equipment received from Western aid, which were not fully accounted for, making the scale of the losses even greater.

Even more shocking was that the Russian military also deployed the “Zircon” hypersonic missile for the first time in this conflict, with each missile costing as much as $50 million.

The high cost of these missiles has made the economic burden of modern warfare even heavier.

One of the most serious consequences of war is not only the direct economic and military losses but also the destruction of a nation’s future development potential.

War leads to massive casualties and displacement, which is not only a short-term demographic issue but, in the long run, leads to a large-scale loss of labor and even affects the overall development pace of the country.

According to data from the Council on Foreign Relations, one year after the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War, the death toll of Ukrainian military personnel and civilians had exceeded 130,000.

The war also caused a massive outflow of people, with over 8 million Ukrainian refugees fleeing their homes, and more than 5 million Ukrainians were displaced internally.

The prolonged war will result in the complete destruction of social infrastructure, near-total economic stagnation, and the loss of labor force, with the shift in population structure having long-lasting effects for decades to come.

The hidden costs of war are often even more deadly than the direct economic losses.

The impact on the country’s social structure, cultural heritage, and international image is immeasurable.

Modern warfare is not just military confrontation; it also involves global economics, supply chain security, and political diplomacy.

Every war changes the political and economic landscape of a region, and even the world, leading to the reshaping of international relations.

For example, the Russo-Ukrainian War has caused global energy prices to fluctuate sharply, with many countries suffering as a result.

More seriously, the war has disrupted the process of globalization and destroyed the atmosphere of international cooperation and mutual benefit.

These destructive consequences are something every nation must carefully consider when deciding whether or not to engage in war.

The cost of modern warfare has far exceeded the scale of any previous conflict.

From economic losses to military equipment depletion, from population loss to the collapse of social order, the cost of war is enormous.

In this context, even great powers are reluctant to easily initiate war.

As the Russo-Ukrainian War has demonstrated, modern warfare is not only a contest of technology and military strength but also a multifaceted competition between nations in terms of economy, society, culture, and more.

In this environment, any war could result in an unbearable price, ultimately affecting not only the parties involved in the conflict but also global stability and prosperity.

Therefore, countries must remain rational and calm, seeking peace and dialogue, and avoiding escalation of conflict.

This is the fundamental reason why, even though the risk of conflict exists globally, most countries try to avoid war.

Modern warfare is no longer simply a military confrontation in the traditional sense but an all-encompassing disaster, and no nation wishes to experience such a disaster firsthand.