BY LYNNE INOUYE AND SYDNEY WESCHCKE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND STAFF WRITER
On Thursday, February 24th, Russia started its invasion of Ukraine–an act of aggression that has resulted in numerous civilian deaths and damage to the country. Missile and artillery attacks targeted major cities, including the capital, Kyiv, in what Russian President Putin called a “special military operation.” At least two and a half million Ukrainians have already fled the country. The UN has called this the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II, with the devastation showing no signs of stopping.
In response to the invasion, the US and other Western nations have imposed tough sanctions on Russia that are only growing stricter as time goes on. Russian banks have been blocked from SWIFT–a global messaging system–sending the economy reeling. Ukrainian resistance has waylaid Russian military goals, as well, even though Western nations have no plans to send troops to the country.
Despite all of this, the invasion continues in full force. Russia has seized control of both Zaporizhzhya, one of Europe’s largest nuclear power plants, and Chernobyl. There have been key advances in the South–especially near the cities of Kherson and Mariupol, with access to necessities like food, water, and medicine dwindling. There has been an agreement to create safe zones for civilians to evacuate these areas, but every attempt has been met with Russian shelling.
Further information about the invasion can be found below. Thank you for reading!
https://www.vox.com/2022/2/23/22948534/russia-ukraine-war-putin-explosions-invasion-explained
https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/world-60598588
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/17/world/europe/europe-countries-refugees-embrace-ukrainians.html