Soon after Putin’s speech, reports emerged of explosions around cities, including Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine and the capital Kyiv. He demanded Ukraine lay down its weapons or be “ responsible for bloodshed.” On February 24, Putin announced he was launching an assault “to defend people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kyiv regime,” a reference to a false claim about the government in Ukraine. As experts said, that was likely just the beginning, setting the stage for a much larger conflict.ĭays later, that larger conflict materialized. He recognized the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine where Moscow has backed a separatist rebellion since 2014 and sent so-called peacekeeping forces into the region. Tensions escalated quickly when, on February 21, Putin delivered an hour-long combative speech that essentially denied Ukrainian statehood. Putin’s war on Ukraine, explained Ukraine is under siegeĪfter months of Putin building up tens of thousands of troops near the Ukrainian border and a series of failed diplomatic talks, Russia is now waging a full-out war on Ukraine. But the more protracted this war becomes, the more catastrophic it will be. The Russian military’s early strategy has perplexed some experts and observers. Russian forces have not made the progress they likely thought they would at the start of the campaign. Ukraine’s resistance has complicated Russia’s efforts to seize the country. He claimed the Russian military seeks “demilitarization and denazification” but not occupation attacks shortly followed from multiple fronts and targeted toward multiple cities. The battle for Ukraine began in the early morning hours, local time, on February 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he called a “special military operation” into the country of about 40 million. Already, it is causing an astounding humanitarian crisis: Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of civilians have died, and more than 1.5 million people have fled the violence so far, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, making it the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. Putin’s attempt to redraw the map of Europe risks becoming the most devastating conflict on the continent since World War II. Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images A pre-invasion map of Ukraine and surrounding countries, including areas already annexed by Russia. As of March 6, multiple attempts to evacuate Ukrainian civilians have been halted because of Russian shelling.Ī school located near the center of Kharkiv, shown on February 28, destroyed in fighting with Russian forces. Ukrainian and Russian officials met in early March, and tentatively agreed on the need to humanitarian corridors - basically, safe zones for civilians to flee and supplies to pass through - but did not reach agreements on a larger ceasefire. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, experienced heavy Russian fire this week, and strikes have heavily damaged residential areas. Russian bombardment of these cities has resulted in humanitarian issues, with bridges and roads damaged by the fighting and dwindling access to food, clean water, medicine, and electricity in certain areas. The Russian military has made advances in the south, and are gaining in the area of Kherson, a port city on the Black Sea whose control is reportedly contested, and Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov. Russian troops were advancing toward Kyiv, and thousands and thousands are fleeing in advance of a possible siege on the city. US officials have said Russia now appears to be in control of the plant.īut the incident was a reminder of how dangerous this war in Ukraine is becoming, and how uncertain and confusing things still are on the ground. It took hours, but the fire was extinguished, and international monitors said that they do not detect elevated radiation levels and that the fire did not damage “essential” equipment. Russian shelling of the southeastern Ukraine facility set off a fire, which Ukrainian officials warned could set off a nuclear disaster. On March 4, Russia seized Zaporizhzhia, one of Europe’s largest nuclear power plants. Where to donate if you want to assist refugees and people in Ukraine. The US and its European allies have responded to Putin’s aggression with unprecedented sanctions, but have no plans to send troops to Ukraine, for good reason. It could also impact inflation, gas prices, and the global economy. It’s destabilizing the region and terrorizing Ukrainian citizens. Russia’s invasion has the potential to set up a clash of nuclear world powers. Learn the history behind the conflict and what Russian President Vladimir Putin has said about his war aims. Get in-depth coverage about Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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