It’s been one year sinceRussia’s invasion of Ukrainebegan in late February 2022, a situation that came after months of tensions and quickly unraveled, leading to countless deaths and the displacement of millions.
Twelve months later, the invasion remains ongoing, with the United Nations Refugee Agency estimating that more than8 million refugeesare believed to have fled Ukraine since the start of the war.
Russian PresidentVladimir Putinrefuses to back down — despite what many diplomats say was a severe underestimation of the Ukrainian people, who have fought tooth and nail to save their country and their livelihoods.
Despite the tragedy, heartache and continued fog of war, Ukraine remains committed to defeating its enemy, with the entire country mobilized and rallying around its leader, Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy.
Here’s everything to know about the war in Ukraine as both sides of the conflict show no signs of accepting defeat.
VLADIMIR SIMICEK/AFP/Getty; ALEXEY DRUZHININ/AFP/Getty
Why Did Russia Invade Ukraine?
In February 2022, Putin declared two separatist territories in Ukraine — Donetsk and Luhansk — independent states and ordered Russian troops to deploy on a so-called “peacekeeping mission” in the country’s eastern region, which he called “ancient Russian lands.”
The “peacekeeping” remarks, which came after months of tensions, belied Putin’s actions, which saw more than 150,000 Russian troops stationed along the country’s border with Ukraine (a number U.S.intelligence determinedmade up close to 75% of Russia’s principal combat units).
YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty
Minutes after the speech, reports of missile attacks and explosions were reported across Ukraine.
Russian forces assaulted the countryfrom three sides, with those in the cities of Odessa, Dnipro, Mariupol and Kramatorsk all reporting large blasts.
Many of the attacks were at military bases, though civilian areas have also been attacked — including, notably, a drama theatre acting as a shelter for hundreds of women, children and the elderly. The theatre, located in the hard-hit region of Mariupol, wasbombeddespite that the word “children” was written in Russian outside two sides of the building.
A theater in Mariupol, Ukraine.EyePress News/Shutterstock
How did the world respond?
Current and former world leaders alikecondemnedthe attack. U.S. PresidentJoe Bidencalled Putin’s actions a “flagrant violation of international law” that “commands a firm response from the international community.” Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said that Russia had violated his country’s “national integrity and sovereignty” and that the borders will “remain as such.”
Joe Biden visits Kyiv.DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images
The U.S. has also hit Russia financially, via sanctions aimed at Putin, his billionaire oligarch loyalists, and even his own children andrumored girlfriend.
Treasury SecretaryJanet L. Yellensaid in the statement that Putin’s allies “have enriched themselves and funded opulent lifestyles,” all while “innocent people suffer from Russia’s illegal war of aggression.”
“The Treasury Department will use every tool at our disposal to make sure that Russian elites and the Kremlin’s enablers are held accountable for their complicity in a war that has cost countless lives,” Yellen added in the statement. “Together with our allies, the United States will also continue to choke off revenue and equipment underpinning Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine.”
On Monday, Biden made asurprise trip to Ukraine to “reaffirm” U.S. support, saying in a written statement: “When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong.”
Evgeniy Maloletka/AP/Shutterstock
How many lives are estimated to have been lost so far?
The exact number of lives lost during Russia’s invasion is not yet known, though American officials have estimated that some 200,000 Russian troops have beenkilled and woundedin Ukraine,TheNewYorkTimesreports.
TheTimesfurther cites Norway’s defense chief, who has publicly estimated that Ukraine has seen 100,000 people killed or wounded in action and some 30,000 civilian deaths (though his told the outlet the number could be lower, or higher, than that).
Human rights groupsestimate that a significant portion of Ukraine’s population has been displaced, either internally or externally, due to the war.
Kyiv, October 2022.SERGEI CHUZAVKOV/AFP via Getty Images
Is the end of the war in sight?
While the war remains ongoing, there have been several signs that global sanctions have severely restricted Russia’s supply chains and forced Putin to turn to less-than-ideal trading partners — likeNorth Korea— for military supplies.
And while Russia has suffered apparentshortcomings on the battlefield, Putin has ramped up nuclear threats andcalled for a partial mobilizationof Russian citizens amid the ongoing invasion, saying in a speech: “When the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people. It’s not a bluff,” per a Reuters report.
So when does it end? It’s a question that even President Biden himself has mulled.
“I’m trying to figure out what is Putin’s off ramp?“Biden saidat an event held in October. “Where does [Putin] find a way out? Where does he find himself in a position that he does not only lose face but lose significant power within Russia?”
Speaking to PEOPLE for arecent interview, NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel noted that Putin has launched a new offensive, “which is primarily focused … in the East to reestablish his presence.”
“I think it’s going to drag on. We’re still in the early phases,” Engel said.
He continued: “We’re seeing Ukrainians fighting for principle. They are fighting for their land. They’re fighting for their homes. Ukrainians' existence is at stake.” Putin, meanwhile, is “framing this as a war for Russia’s survival.”
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has become something ofan international hero.
In December, the Ukrainian leader made his first trip outside his home country since the Russian invasion began,flying to Washington, D.C.to meet with President Biden, first lady and members of Congress.
In a statement at the time, White House press secretaryKarine Jean-Pierrenoted that the visit came 300 days after Russia launched its assault.
“The visit will underscore the United States' steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes, including through the provision of economic, humanitarian, and military assistance,” Jean-Pierre added.
Earlier that same day, the U.S. Department of Defense announced $1.85 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine, which it said will “add to a layered defense to counter the full range of threats currently menacing Ukraine’s cities and civilians.”
source: people.com
