There is a war in Eastern Europe that many are calling a threat to democracy. Ukraine is still facing Russian attacks, desperately defending itself despite invasion. Numbers of displaced families are increasing daily. Here is a rundown of what has happened so far.
Darkness was looming over Ukraine for months prior to Russia’s invasion. The threat of sitting tanks in parts of the country did not seem to bother many who were living there. Threat from Russia developed into reality when Putin addressed his security council, albeit from the opposite end of an enormous room, and seemed to give them no option but to support his next moves. His next moves turned out to consist of attacks on most of Ukraine, in the name of defending the Donbas region from Ukrainian rule, which he claims as corrupt and fascist. Quantitatively, Russian tanks and fighting vehicles outnumber Ukrainian defence by about six thousand assets – partly due to a reluctance by foreign governments to be directly involved. Of course, there is no real way to defend against shelling of cities, which has, heartbreakingly, been the main tactic used against Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Yavoriv. These cities are spread right across the country.
For such a disheartening situation and against all odds, President Volodomir Zelensky – former actor and comedian – has truly put on an outstanding show. He is very popular among Ukrainians and the world’s spectators in his handling of this war. His speeches have held nothing back, proclaiming the Russian movement as outright evil and defending his citizens with everything he’s got. Zelensky has also been clear in ranking which countries have come to Ukraine’s aid so far. It seems unlikely he will give up the fight any time soon.
One notable event during the invasion has been the Russian militarisation of Chernobyl, resurfacing themes of nuclear war for the first time since the Cold War. Although there was no nuclear threat from this particular event, the move sparked fear and left hundreds of workers at the site as hostages. There have been moments, over the last month of this invasion, of support for Russia, such as the ‘Z’ movement, notably by Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak. Donald Trump’s positive regard for Putin has also created pockets of more general Republican support for such an authoritarian regime.Although, some report this is mainly a way of expressing annoyance at a Democratic president.. Notably, China – whom Putin probably assumed would be a strong ally throughout this – neither condemned nor condoned the action. Any justifications that have been put forward for this invasion have focussed on the salvation of the Donbas region back into Russian hands, protection of Russian language and heritage across Eastern Europe, and an unfounded discomfort with Ukrainian leadership. In some senses, Putin is flexing his military muscles in order to threaten neighbouring countries against joining Nato, which he sees as a threat to Russia’s existing regime. Nato is increasing its reach further into Eastern Europe, subsequently minimising security risks for those involved in the treaty. Nato defends democracy through its strong allied forces, and a larger Nato means a weaker Russia. Consensus among Ukrainian citizens regarding joining Nato has increased since the start of the invasion despite President Zelensky claiming they have no plans to do so.
In Russia, life has also changed for the worse. Western sanctions have gripped the nation, putting them in a difficult situation that is only projected to get more painful, as the West threatens to wean off Russian energy. This combined with government-imposed censorship means that a lot of Russian citizens, including those who have loved ones in Ukraine, are split as to the extent and truth of the invasion. Rumours of fake news across state-run media outlets are feeding the beginnings of an ‘infowar’. Incidents like the moment a Russian journalist held an anti-propaganda sign on state TV contribute to the idea that there are conflicting messages being broadcast.
The Refugee Crisis
Those fleeing the attack on Ukraine have become the focus of Western news gathering, fundraising and humanitarian aid. According to the United Nations, 3.6 million women and children have left for neighbouring countries, with most men staying home to fight. Poland has taken in over 2 million of these displaced – far beyond their projected capacity. This is possible due to the number of families who have opened their doors of their own accord, which is one of the most extreme responses to a refugee crisis that we have seen in recent years.
More recently, concerns are being raised around the vulnerability of these refugees, particularly within the sex trafficking sphere. There are a lot of unaccompanied young people who are likely feeling desperate and are at risk of organised criminal activity. As well as this, however, BBC News has suggested the risk posed by individuals personally opening their doors to refugees – a situation that, in other circumstances, would be unheard of.
As shelling continues, Ukraine officials continue to evacuate entire cities – the most recent being Mariupol – meaning this displacement crisis is likely to extend into the future, and carry with it all the usual financial and humanitarian difficulties. The war is far from over.