Eerily repeating devastating patterns of the past, Russia has launched aggressive attacks against Ukraine in an effort to annex the region. The weeks preceding the attack have been unbearably tense, as representatives of a myriad of nations participated in talks in order to prevent war. Although the conflict seems abrupt and surprising, it is everything but. In a meeting between George W. Bush and Putin in 2008, the Russian leader said that “Ukraine isn’t a country”, showing that the animosity that has now exploded into active combat has been a long time in the making.
It is important to note that Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union before its ultimate dissolution. Arguably, Russia’s historic expansionist yearnings that are likely behind such acts of blatant violence. Formally, however, Russia has renewed its aggression due to what they have dubbed NATO’s “eastward expansion.” NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was established after the second world war as a set of alliances and agreements between nations led by western powers. Member countries agreed to support each other in the event of an attack against any other member country. This military alliance excluded the Soviet Union, which proceeded to develop an equivalent program called the Warsaw Pact. Although the Soviet Union ultimately broke apart, NATO remained as an established organization that aimed to maintain global peace. Recently, talks have taken place to give Ukraine a membership in NATO, a prospect that made the Russians tremble. They believed that if Ukraine joined NATO, they would be susceptible to an attack from the west. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president–who is widely considered a dictator–has condemned NATO expansion for years and names the organization a conspiracy designed to take over Moscow. Despite its complex origins, the fact is that as of February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a full scale invasion on Ukraine, and the future is uncertain.
The attacks began after Russian forces launched missiles on cities and military targets. Putin launched the attacks during a televised address in which he called the Ukrainian military to lay down its weapons. Ukraine subsequently declared martial law, and hundreds of citizens took to the streets in desperate attempts to leave the cities. Impactful images of jam packed highways show the desperation and fear that is gripping the whole nation. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted, "Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself." The missiles are being directed surprisingly near the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv and the city of Kharkiv. They continued to spread like wildfire across the Russian-Ukrainian border, as Russian forces attacked the country from three sides.
It seems that the international community has become paralyzed by the events, few people actually believed that Russia would take such drastic measures. The United States’ President, Joe Biden, issued a statement calling Vladimir Putin an “aggressor” and announced that heavy sanctions on Russia are underway. Even before the Russian invasion, the United States had been sending military aid to Ukraine as early as January. Biden’s official statement calls Russia's actions “unprovoked” and “unjustified” and announced that a G7 meetings and discourse were underway. The statement also said that the United States and G7 “will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance.” Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister also released a statement announcing “severe sanctions.” He also said that Russia’s aggression is “the greatest threat to European stability since World War II.” The Ukrainian president has shown an exceptionally brave front, refusing to leave the country and asserting that Ukrainian troops are standing strong, “We are all here. Defending our independence. Our country. And so it will continue.”
The situation continues developing with new updates flooding the media by the minute. On February 27th, Putin announced that he put Russia’s nuclear weapons on “special alert.” What this situation has proven is that Putin is impulsive and unpredictable, so the decision to include nuclear weapons in the narrative not only serves to scare and threaten Ukraine and its allies, but also proves the extent to which Putin is willing to go to reach his goal. His determination is no secret, however, as he clearly stated that any country who attempted to interfere or stop him would see consequences “never seen in your history.” Most recently, President Zelensky said that dialogue with the Russians was underway with the help of Alexander Lukashenko, a Belarusian leader. However, both Russia and Belarus have not confirmed these talks, therefore an end to the conflict through dialogue seems a far way off.
The number of dead and wounded is unknown given the speed at which the conflict is escalating. The Ukrainian health ministry issued a report stating that around 198 Ukrainians have been killed and over 1,115 have been wounded–Russian authorities have not disclosed the death toll on their side. Additionally, over 368,000 people have fled Ukraine into Poland and other bordering countries, showing the onset of a grave humanitarian crisis as well. Amid the newest developments, The European Union has announced that it will impose stricter bans on Russia such as banning Russian-owned media outlets and continue giving aid and support to Ukraine. Satellite images, as reported by CNN, show Russian military convoys stretching on for more than three miles on a road that heads directly to Kiev, the Ukrainian Capital. As the situation continues to develop, it is important to stay informed with reliable information and offer solidarity to those suffering the immediate consequences of this devastating conflict.
If you are interested in supporting Ukraine, we recommend you look into the following verified sources that are raising funds and awareness regarding the ongoing war:
Ukraine’s National Bank set up an account solely dedicated to support the country’s armed forces
Provides humanitarian response such as helping refugees and training doctors
Raises funds to buy medication and medical supplies for field and army hospitals at the frontline
Raises funds to purchase baby food, hygiene products, and other basic necessities to help citizen
UN based organization providing shelter, blankets, and specialist protection to support civilians escaping the country
**This article was last updated on Sunday, February 27th, 2022.
Written By: Carolina Mejia Rodriguez
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