Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict|Russia-Ukraine war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation against Ukraine on February 24. The military invasion of Ukraine from multiple directions was seen as the start of a war in Europe over Russia’s demands to end NATO’s eastward expansion.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation against Ukraine on February 24. The military invasion of Ukraine from multiple directions was seen as the start of a war in Europe over Russia’s demands to end NATO’s eastward expansion.

Putin has denied for months that he planned an invasion. Today, however, he announced in a televised address that he had ordered a “special military operation” to protect Russian citizens suffering “genocide” in Ukraine.

History background

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine date back several years. Tensions escalated in 2021, however, when Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky urged U.S. President Joe Biden to let Ukraine join NATO.

Ukraine is a democratic country of 44 million people with a history of more than 1,000 years. It also happens to be the largest country in Europe by area after Russia.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it voted for independence from Moscow. Putin sees Ukraine as an artifact carved out of Russia by the enemy. He also described Ukraine as a puppet of the West.

Zelensky’s request to join NATO angered Russia and began deploying troops near the Ukrainian border.

On November 10, 2021, the United States reported unusual movements of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border. On November 28, Ukraine said Russia would mobilize nearly 92,000 troops for an offensive in late January or early February.

Moscow, however, denies this and accuses Kiev of its own military buildup.

In December, President Biden warned of severe sanctions against Russia if it invaded Ukraine. Putin has repeatedly demanded assurances from the West and Ukraine that it will not join NATO.

2014 Invasion

This is not the first time tensions have arisen between Russia and Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and annexed the Crimea peninsula. Rebels backed by President Vladimir Putin have seized large swathes of eastern Ukraine and are fighting the army. The attack came as its pro-Russian president was ousted. Since then, the war has claimed more than 14,000 lives.

What does Ukraine want?

A 2001 opinion poll showed that nearly half of Ukrainians supported the country’s withdrawal from the Soviet Union. More than 80 percent now support Ukrainian independence.

Present Condition :

The Ukrainian military claims at least “50 Russian occupiers” have been killed as Russia continues to fire missiles. “Shchastya has been captured. 50 Russian occupiers were killed. Another Russian plane was destroyed in the Kramatorsk region. This is the sixth,” the Ukrainian military said.

The border guards further claimed that Russian forces were attacking with rockets and helicopters from multiple directions.

Ukrainian Major General Valeriy Zaluzhny said President Zelensky had ordered his forces to “inflict maximum damage on the aggressors”.