Every hour of every day, something new happens; A suburban family is found dead, a Ukrainian city is captured, or a Russian tank is stopped with the body of a patriot. This article is meant to clarify the details of this war and how Ukraine, and the world, are responding.
On February 24, at 4:50 EET, Russia began to rain missiles on the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv, and the war over Ukraine began. Putin gave a few reasons for his “military exercises.” These reasons include Russia not feeling “safe [to] develop and exist,” which is a familiar message to what Putin said about the Georgian government in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia when he went to war with Georgia and declared both of these regions independent in 2008. Another reason he gave was the protection of Ukrainian people from genocide and bullying that has occurred over the past eight years. It should be noted that 14,000 people (including 3,000 civilians) have died during this time. However, they did not die due to a Ukrainian genocide, but due to a war between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region of Ukraine.
Another main reason Putin gives is the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine. This accusation is mostly false, but it should be noted that there have been multiple statues erected by the government praising different Ukrainian heroes who were aligned with the Nazis. Also, many of those who have been fighting for the government against separatists, and are currently volunteering in the war against Russia, are a part of neo-nazi groups in the country. However, not only does the Ukrainian government not align with Naziism, but the Ukrainian president is Jewish, he has family members who were killed in World War II and his grandfather fought against the Nazis. Putin also stated that his goal included the “demilitarization” of Ukraine. This included a promise from the Russian Foreign Minister saying, “no strikes are [will be] made on civilian infrastructure,” and the Russian Defense Minister going as far as to say, “there is no threat to [the] civilian population.” This is simply not true, with rockets slamming into homes, cars, gardens, and other specifically civilian locations. This includes a maternity and children’s hospital. As a result, hundreds of civilians have died, with more passing every day. There is, however, a way out. If Ukrainians follow directions from the Russian military and accept a new administration, they won’t be subject to shelling, and their flag will be allowed to stay in place. The Ukrainian people have not accepted these terms.
The Ukrainian people have not made any indication that they plan to allow the Russian military to “protect” them. In fact, many have shown that they refuse to give up their land without a fight. A flood of Ukrainian volunteers has rushed to enlist in the Ukrainian army. Ukrainians who are not prepared to fight or haven’t received a weapon have joined the effort by digging trenches, making Molotov cocktails, and intimidating the Russian army in any way they can. As Zelensky asks other nations to help Ukraine more, they have responded by pouring supplies into the country and issuing harsh sanctions against Russia. Many countries are also attempting to punish Russia, even if doing so impacts their own citizens. One such policy includes America’s recent ban on Russian oil and energy resources, even though this will come with steeper gas prices in the United States. However, these world powers are wary of doing anything that could push Russia too far and possibly trigger a world conflict (like providing Ukraine with troops or accepting their requests to join NATO and the EU). As a result, Zelensky has personally asked volunteers from around the world to “join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world.” These foreign fighters are pouring in, with Zelensky announcing that 16,000 have joined the fight so far, including volunteers from the United States.
Zelensky is refusing to back down, Ukraine is refusing to back down, the world is refusing to back down. However, there is even more to the story as some people flee and others dig in their heels for war. That is a story for another article.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.