Russia and Ukraine: What's going on?

If you feel that you haven't paid enough attention to what's going on in Eastern Europe and would like a quick summary, here you go.

First, some history. Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe, and borders Russia to the east and north-east. Ukraine's parliament declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, proclaiming that Ukraine would no longer follow USSR law. There has been tension between Russia and Ukraine since then. Since 2014 an armed conflict, the Russo-Ukrainian War, has been ongoing between primarily Russia & Pro-Russian forces and Ukraine, initially centred on the Status of Crimea and Donbas, which are recognised internationally as parts of Ukraine. The conflict between the countries has many layers, and involves geographical areas, power, security policy, history, identity and international law.

A new cold war is how the situation between Russia and Ukraine was described by many as the tension between the countries has increased due to many different factors. In 2008 NATO opened up for Ukraine to become a member, but they still haven't applied. Putin is against the country becoming a member. In spring 2021 Russia began building up troop strengths along the Ukrainian border, while repeatedly denying that they were planning an attack. In December 2021 he demanded that NATO lessen their presence in member countries in Eastern Europe, but instead they increased it. Multiple NATO countries have supplied Ukraine with military equipment. Putin fears that a more western Ukraine will become a threat to the Russian regime, and wants to control Ukraine. Internal tension in Ukraine and pro-Russians asking for help gave Russia further excuse to launch a military attack. February 22 2022 Putin ordered military forces to enter Donetsk and Luhansk, two regions referred to as Donbas. Putin officially recognised the two as sovereign states that are fully independent from the Ukrainian government.

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine is the largest escalation of the ongoing war between them, and began on 24 February. Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" in eastern Ukraine around 05:00 local time. The purpose of the operation was said to be to demilitarise Ukraine, as Russia could not feel "safe, develop and exist", claiming modern Ukraine is a threat. Only minutes after the announcement, several locations in Ukraine were hit by missil strikes, including Kyiv, the country's capital. Ukraine's border posts with Russia and Belarus were attacked in multiple locations. Putin stating that Donetsk and Luhansk are sovereign states allowed Russian forces to enter the Donbas region. Russian forces continued to move towards Kyiv, as Putin's goal is likely to appoint a new government. Battles were going on in a number of cities, causing massive damages and casualties. Later on the 24, Russia had taken control of Chernobyl and held staff hostage inside. By 16.00 it was estimated that more than 100,000 Ukrainians had fled their homes. Many are seeking shelter in churches and underground train stations. By 23.00 president Zelenskyy ordered Ukrainians able to carry arms to defend their country, and banned men between 18 to 60 from leaving the country. At least 137 civilians and soldiers were killed. Western nations have pledged aid and supplies to Ukrainian forces.

Attacks continue and on 25 February Kyiv is struck by more air strikes and explosions. President Zelenskyy asked residents to prepare Molotov cocktails, and 18,000 guns have been distributed to Kyiv residents. The president accused Russia of targeting civilian as well as military sites, and according to Vadym Denysenko, a Ukraine government spokesperson, 33 civilian sites had been struck in the last 24 hours.

On February 26 the battle in and around Kyiv intensifies, and the city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reports that 35 people were wounded during the night, including two children. President Zelenskyy tweeted after a conversation with France's president Emmanuel Macron that their partners were sending weapons and equipment, and that "The anti-war coalition is working!". The Dutch government has said they will deliver 200 air defence rockets to Ukraine as quickly as possible. The American government has offered to help president Zelenskyy leave Kyiv to avoid being captured or killed, but the president has chosen to stay. Russian troops have captured the city Melitopol, in southeastern Ukraine. It's the first significant population centre to be taken over during the invasion. The head of the Ukrainian Health Ministry says at least 198 Ukrainians have been killed so far, including three children. 1,115 people have been wounded, including 33 children.

International sanctions were immediately put in place as a response to to Putin's attack. The UK has frozen the assets of all major Russian banks and have excluded them from the UK financial system. Russia's Aeroflot airline has been banned from the UK, as well as export sanctions being put in place. EU nations are targeting the Russian banking market and the energy sector, as well as export to Russia. US president Joe Biden announced freezing the assets of four major Russian banks, and cutting them off from US dollar transactions. The US and allies will also cut off a large part of Russia's imports for military purposes. Australia has imposed sanctions on Russians who voted to authorise the sending of Russian troops into Ukraine. Russia has been banned from the Council of Europe, as well as Eurovision Song Contest. They have also lost the 2021/22 UEFA Men's Champions League final. Japan is sanctioning Russian financial institutions and individuals, as well as putting in place export sanctions. Belarus has also been hit by sanctions from the UK, the US and Australia, for its role in the attack on Ukraine. Amnesty International has found evidence that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has violated international humanitarian law, and that some of the attacks may amount to war crimes. Many hospitals and civilian areas have been struck by attacks.

Despite the international reactions, Vladimir Putin defends his move to attack, saying there was no other way to defend Russia.

Protests have been going on in Russia for weeks. In the beginning of February 150 prominent Russian activists, academics and authors signed an open letter, "If Only There Is No War!", opposing an attack on Ukraine. On the day of the invasion, several Russian celebrities criticised it on social media. Petitions and open letters have received large numbers of signatures. Thousands of people gathered in the streets in anti-war protest, leading to over 1,700 arrests in 53 different cities. Russian news outlets have been warned by Russia's communications regulator against falsely depicting what Russia calls "a special military operation in Ukraine".

In the midst of all this, it's important to remember that Russians and Ukrainians are not enemies. Russian civilians did not choose to go to war, and many of them are also suffering as they are living in a destabilised country right now.

The situation in Ukraine is absolutely devastating, but let's not forget that it's not an isolated incident. It's the same thing as what's been going on in Iraq, Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria and many other countries for several years. These conflicts lead to huge numbers of suffering civilians, and all of them deserve peace, justice and safety. We need to fight for everyone's right to sovereignty and democracy.

"We all face a choice between a world in which might makes right and autocrats are free to impose their will through force, or a world in which free people everywhere have the power to determine their own future." - Barack Obama

"We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly." - Martin Luther King

Resources:

Ukrainians have put together a list of resources for foreigners who want to help, but don't know where to start: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/

Organisations to support:

Korporatsiya Monstriv - Medical, social and humanitarian help for children and elderly people.

Fight for Fight - Support Ukrainians with disabilities in emergency.

Everybody Can - NGO based in Kyiv and provides assistance throughout Ukraine. Everybody Can creates volunteering opportunities to establish a responsible and tolerant society in Ukraine and to help those who need it the most.

Organisations to support the LGBT+ community in Ukraine:

@insight_ngo @Kyivpride @fulcrumua

We need to put pressure on our governments to take action. Contact your national representatives and demand they do what they can to end the war in Ukraine. As citizens it's also important that we only share verified information about the crisis, and refrain from spreading fake news. The world needs to see what's going on.

Also: Keep in mind that this is a devastating crisis with rapidly increasing numbers of injuries and loss of life, and publicly sharing memes and making jokes about the situation is insensitive. Please consider sharing helpful links and resources instead.

This information is as of the morning of February 26.

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