The Russo-Ukrainian War: One year later

After one year of brutal conflict, Ukraine’s struggle for sovereignty and peace continues. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s takeover of Ukraine, expected to take three days, has been met with over 400 days of fierce resistance, culminating in the largest European conflict since World War II. Russia now occupies around 62,000 square miles, or 27%, of Ukraine’s territory. Putin has justified his “special military operation” by claiming it is meant to “demilitarize and de-Nazify” Ukraine, in reference to Ukrainian number of Russian casualties is approaching 200,000, while the Ukrainian death count hovers around 100,000. However, both countries are known to exaggerate the other’s death count; thus, establishing precise statistics is extremely difficult. Nonetheless, the United Nations considers the conflict the largest refugee crisis in the last century, with over eight million Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.

Throughout the conflict, Russian forces have committed atrocities including civlian massacres,

The U.S. alone has sent Ukraine over $75 billion in financial, humanitarian and military aid.

“The U.S. must maintain its aid to Ukraine until the very end of the war because America is a country that stands for freedom both within its own borders and internationally. By continuing our aid, we would be sustaining our commitment to supporting Ukraine’s independence,” Freshman James Yu said.

NATO is the world’s largest military alliance, comprising of 30 countries and operating on the the EU and NATO, moving away from Russia’s sphere of influence. The 2014 Revolution of Dignity resulted in the overthrow of proRussian President Yanukovych, driving a further schism between the two nations.

When Ukraine gave up control of Soviet nuclear weapons in 1994, Russia promised to never invade Ukraine in an agreement known as the Budapest Memorandum, but violated this agreement with the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2022 invasion. Following the annexation of Crimea, Russian-

Infographic: RussoUkraine War timeline

by Gwen Carroll and Kyan Wang Staff Writers

Feb. 24, 2022: Russia invades Ukraine

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Aug. 1, 2022: The Battle of Bakhmut

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April 14, 2022: The Moskova sinks

Sept. 12, 2022: Ukrainian counteroffensive

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October 2022: Russian infrastructure strikes

Russian missile strikes targeting critical energy infrastructure hit major cities, constituting a war crime, and leaving millions of civilians without heat in the brutally cold winter.

Feb. 24, 2023: One-year anniversary of the war

Ukraine claims 10,000 to 13,000 Ukrainians have died while Russia has suffered 145,580 casualties; Russia claims that only 6,000 Russians have died and 157,000 Ukrainians have died.