The Invasion of Ukraine: 1 Year Later
By: Josh Becker
On February 24th, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a large-scale invasion of Ukraine to demilitarize the country. Since Russia’s invasion began, there have been more than 40,000 deaths, more than 50,000 non-fatal injuries, at least 15,000 people missing, approximately 14 million people displaced, more than 140,000 buildings destroyed, and approximately $350 billion worth of damage. When Russia initially began the invasion, many expected them to quickly overwhelm Ukraine. However, Ukraine has been able to survive for nearly a whole year under the leadership of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and with financial and military aid from NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
Why is Russia Invading Ukraine?
The primary reason Russia has for invading Ukraine is to create a buffer zone between NATO and Russia. If Ukraine were to fully align itself with NATO, Russia’s frontline would be pushed back hundreds of miles closer to Moscow and the Kremlin (The capital of Russia and main seat of the Russian Government). If Ukraine joined NATO, the United States could hypothetically place nuclear warheads only a few hundred miles from the Kremlin.
How has Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Impacted the World?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has irreversibly changed the world. The most significant changes to the world order have been Sweden and Finland’s applications to NATO, which have only provoked Russia more. NATO’s heavy focus on the Russian threat has allowed China to show increased aggression towards Taiwan, which opens the possibility of a war on two fronts. The economic impacts of Russia’s invasion have also been felt across the world. The most important change to the economy has been the increased price of energy, as Russia is the world’s largest oil exporter, and NATO sanctions have dramatically reduced the available amount of oil. Ukraine has long been the breadbasket (primary agricultural exporter) of Europe and the Middle East. As the Russian invasion has severely reduced Ukrainian agricultural yields, food prices have risen throughout the world.
How has the Invasion in Ukraine Progressed?
The Russo-Ukrainian battle began in 2014 when Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine. The battle then remained relatively quiet until February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began with a Russian “Blitzkrieg-style” (lightning war) offensive that tried to overthrow President Zelenskyy’s Government. After Russia’s initial offensive failed, Russia shifted its focus to establishing greater control over the eastern regions of Ukraine for the next several months. In August 2022, Ukraine formally launched a counter-offensive that succeeded in liberating Kherson, the southeastern region of Ukraine. Russia then began to attack Ukrainian infrastructure, including Ukraine’s power grid. As Ukraine’s offensive continued to the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine, Ukraine began to stage attacks of Russian military bases within Russia. As of now, Russia has once again stepped up its offensive and the battle shows no signs of slowing down or stopping anytime soon.
The Refugee Crisis
The Russian Invasion of Ukraine has resulted in 14 million Ukrainians being displaced and Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War 2. While many of these refugees have made their way to neighboring countries, such as Poland, others have been on longer journeys to reach countries further away from Ukraine, like The United States of America. Some of these refugees have even made it to Jacksonville, Florida. Catholic Charities Jacksonville has been the leader for helping Ukrainian refugees in northeast Florida. According to Lori Weber, the regional director of Catholic Charities, “We are dedicated to helping Ukrainians escape the violence in their home country and resettle in northeast Florida.” Catholic Charities offers help to refugees by providing them with shelter, teaching them English, and helping them get jobs. As a Nease High School student, you can help by either volunteering at Catholic Charities downtown shelter or making donations.
