Ukraine Russia Conflict Explained

What is going on?

The Russia Ukraine War Explained

By Jane Elkins

Most everyone is aware of the recent tragedy that has occurred in Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, causing one of the biggest refugee crises in modern times as millions of Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries. In addition to the suffering and humanitarian crisis from the invasion, the entire global economy has taken a hit as well. Inflation has risen and growth has slowed down. Although most are aware of the current situation, many do not fully understand Russia’s motive behind the invasion, the complicated history between the two nations, or what challenges this war imposes on the international organizations. Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have lasted since 2014 following the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity where thousands of Ukrainians protested and eventually overthrew the Pro-Russian President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych. Yanukovych upset many Ukrainians with his refusal to align Ukraine with the European Union and NATO. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine h as been veering towards the West and has been becoming democratized and westernized right on Russia’s border. Putin cites the fall of the Soviet Union as a “disintegration of historical Russia” and now claims that Russia and Ukrainians are one in the same. This alongside his refusal to acknowledge Ukraine’s legitimacy, completely denies Ukraine of its own history and culture. According to Putin, “Ukraine never had stable traditions of genuine statehood.” Russia has aimed to reverse that and considered the overthrow of Yanukovych an illegal coup. Russia then seized Ukraine’s southern region of Crimea and triggered a separatist rebellion in the east and a war that claimed 14,000 lives. Relations between the two countries have remained relatively stable since the invasion of Crimea until 2021 and 2022 where the Russian military began building up on the border of Ukraine. The United States sent a strong message that an invasion would be met with dire consequences for Russia’s economy.

Regardless, Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24th, telling the Russian people that this was a small scaled military operation that would “demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine” and protect the Ukrainian people from what he called eight years of bullying and genocide by Ukraine’s government. “It is not our plan to occupy Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force,” Putin insisted. The claims of genocide Source: https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-crossroads-europe-and-russia and Nazi’s have no factual backing; regardless, Russian statecontrolled media has been required to promote that to the Russia people. President Putin has been shocked by the response from Western countries towards his invasion. Although he knew NATO would never send troops to Ukraine, he was surprised to see the harsh sanctions that have already detrimentally hurt Russia’s economy. Along with NATO wanting to support peace in the east, Pope Francis has condemned what he calls “a senseless massacre where every day slaughters and atrocities are being repeated”. The Pope continues to pray for peace and an end to violence. While the conflict is far from over, many in the United States have continued to support Ukraine and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The sentiments of world peace are heard all over the world and especially thought of for all civilians affected by this conflict. A quick and fair resolution is yearned for by many at home and abroad.

Opportunities for Growth and Faith

Experience Bishop Ireton’s Student Retreats

By Thad Worth

Senior student leaders for the Spring 2022 Kairos trip pose for a photo before the retreat.

While at B.I., students are invited to go on a retreat with their classmates. There are three main retreats that students can go on: Kairos, Bethany, and Camden. On each retreat, students are invited to grow closer to God and help others. On the Camden retreat, students get a chance to work in one of the poorest areas in the country, on Kairos, students take a step back from life and spend time in prayer with their friends and on Bethany, students strengthen their relationship with Jesus. For Kairos, upperclassmen (Juniors and Seniors) take a bus to a camp, where away from technology and society they spend time in prayer and growing closer to God. Everyday they attend Mass, afterwards going into small groups to prayerfully consider and discuss the questions of the day. Questions invite participants to look inward and reflect on their lives. Have they been living in the image of Christ or have they fallen short and turned away from Him? After considering this, students discuss among themselves what they think they should do to be better Disciples of Christ. All students eat meals together and in between can snack on any food that they brought. Kairos is the perfect time for students to reflect on the gift of life that God has given and the plan He made for them. For Bethany, Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores go with students from Bishop O’Connell, Paul VI, and John Paul the Great and strengthen their relationship with God. Senior Elizabeth (Liz) Ferguson felt that her relationship with God grew deeper and feels that she is closer to Him now after Bethany. Bethany got its name from the Bethany of the Bible. Two miles away from Jerusalem, Bethany was where Jesus would stay when He went to preach in Jerusalem. It was the home of the sisters Mary and Martha, who lived there with their brother Lazarus. It was as they say His ‘home away from home’. Camden is more exclusive, with about eighteen upperclassmen going to Camden, New Jersey, one of the poorest places in the country in the Fall and Spring. Junior Anne Nealon went on the Spring trip and saw firsthand the poverty that residents in Camden endure. She saw the deep connection that they had with God, which showed her the beauty in life’s simplest things. There students visited a homeless center, went to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, and picked up trash that littered the streets and sidewalks. On Camden, students learn to appreciate what they have as they interact with the homeless, poor, and those addicted to drugs. These retreats bring students closer to God and show them the gifts that He has given us. Students learn to appreciate what God has given them and how to use these talents to help others. Whether a student is Catholic or not, everyone can agree that they have learned something from their time away from others.