In the span of just weeks, Ukraine has transformed from a fledgling democracy with a newly elected leader to a devastated war-torn nation where shelling is becoming normal to the residents. In only days, the clear skies filled with the smoke of bombed apartments, schools, and daycares. While the war rages on, Russia has been charged through the International Courts with war crimes, including the purposeful killing of innocents. The indiscriminate bombing of civilians and civilian infrastructure has brought increasing attention to the conflict. Echoing wartime leader Winston Churchill, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the world leaders, and lead nations watching from a distance: “Give us the tools, and we’ll finish the job.” Foreign nations rushed to answer the call, sending in military supplies and issuing sanctions.
Thus far, the U.S. has delivered over 1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, and recently, Biden signed for an additional 800 million dollars in military equipment to be delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces. This bill was part of a package that totals 14 billion in defense aid. This includes anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, ammunition, and “lethal” weapons. “But the U.S. government has been hesitant to detail exactly what is being sent in, so as not to tip off or draw the ire of Moscow,” according to The Hill. In addition, U.S. defense officials have stated that it is necessary for Ukraine to keep logistical information confidential. “We are continuing to work with our allies and key partners to surge new assistances, including Soviet- or Russian-origin antiaircraft systems and the necessary ammunition to employ them, every day to Ukraine,” a U.S. official shared. Meanwhile, more than twenty-five other countries have been doing the same, but they have been hesitant to deploy troops to fight in Ukraine. The U.S. is avoiding sending direct military help, due to fears of the conflict escalating to a “Third World War.” Despite this, many sympathetic citizens have traveled to Ukraine to help in the resistance. “My Ukrainian grandfather fought against the Red Army and the Nazis in World War Two. Now it’s my turn to help,” declares one of the volunteers. Meanwhile, Zelensky continues to call for the U.S.-led NATO alliance to enforce a no-fly zone over the country in order to decrease Russia’s ability to bomb and shell Ukrainian cities. Addressing Biden, he proclaimed “you are the leader of the nation, of your great nation — I wish you to be the leader of the world.” He follows up, “being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.” Zelensky argues that the no-fly zone would change the trajectory of the war, and “defend democracy” in addition to thousands of innocent lives. Despite their comparatively small air force, the Ukrainian army has managed to thwart Russia’s ability to achieve air superiority. The armed forces assured they have been using the missiles effectively. Social media videos of destroyed Russian vehicles are often paired with images of Ukrainian soldiers holding javelins. Turkish drones are also credited for many of the social media videos of burned-out Russian vehicles littering the Ukrainian roads. The drones were hailed by several news sites as “cheap and effective.”
While the intense fighting rages on, the world still strives for an end to the war through diplomacy. Zelensky continues to meet with delegates from Russia. He does not think these meetings will make any headway for the Ukrainian agenda, but “[i]f there is just a 1 percent chance to stop this war, we need to do that.” The UN and NATO continue to discuss plans to “punish Russia,” for their unprovoked attack on Ukraine. While American diplomacy in Ukraine remains stalled due to the intense conflict, many public figures have been speaking out against the war. In his State of the Union Address in March, Biden attacked Putin’s “reign of terror.” Russian artists have been openly condemning the war, which is a risky move given the Kremlin’s readiness to punish dissenters. Conductor Seymon Bychkov canceled his performance in St. Petersburg to protest the “repression inflicted by the regime.”
Although direct Russia-U.S. diplomatic relations have nearly halted since the start of the invasion, America continues non-violent attacks on Russia through various economic sanctions. According to The Hill, many of the sanctions target the wealthy and their businesses. The reasoning is that the elite Russians are assumed to have some influence over Putin and his policies. These attacks are still affecting Russia on a broader level; the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) could shrink by as much as 7 percent in the year and 35 percent in the quarter, according to economists at J.P. Morgan. In addition, the Russian Central Bank is struggling to maintain the value of the ruble, and the country’s stock market has been shuttered for weeks. For an everyday citizen, the effects seem less severe. “Luckily, my life hasn’t changed drastically yet, but I’m being deprived of the usual things,” a Russian woman, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of her safety, shared in an interview through a social media channel. “I can no longer use Apple Pay, watch Netflix, buy anything from foreign websites, and I need a VPN [virtual private network] to use Instagram. Prices are going up on almost everything, especially imported goods.”
In the meantime, an unofficial cyberwar is being waged against Russia. Non-government affiliated hacking groups and some non-profit organizations have been working to fight disinformation, for which the Russians are famous. They have also taken down some prominent government websites. A hacking group, called Anonymous, reported having disabled the Russian and Belarussian official government sites, along with various other services in Russia. In addition, websites are being created to inform Russians about the attacks on Ukrainians, many of whom still do not believe that the “military operation” is an invasion.
With the help of NATO, Ukrainians have fought with bravery and conviction to stem off Russian forces in the first four weeks of the invasion. As the war prolongs, it is difficult to know what might become of Ukraine with its fortress cities under military attack, especially if and when western nations waiver on their support.
Article by Huan Changvu of Cabin John Middle School
Photo courtesy of Unsplash