There’s quite a lot going on in Russia Ukraine Crisis Conflict that most people don’t yet fathom. And in Kenya, this topic was even trending on Google for the better part of yesterday. Notably, Russia began a large-scale military attack on Ukraine, its southern neighbor, on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin. And, as a result, the troops are still seen advancing toward the main capitals according to credible sources.
On the same note, there are reports of attacks on Ukrainian military infrastructure across the country, and Russian convoys entering from all directions. According to BBC News, Russia continues its military build-up on Ukraine’s border. While, at the same time, it’s also attempting to control the media narrative as well — but, which parts are misleading?
A regular feature of Russian media coverage is continuously suggesting that Ukraine is a country in alignment with Nazism. Thus, Portraying Ukraine as Pro-Nazi according to BBC News. It’s true that both countries refused to back the resolution. However, the Russian ministry’s posts failed to provide the context for their decisions.
Facts About The Russia-Ukraine Crisis Conflict Invasion
Eventually, in a televised speech at 05:55 Moscow time (02:55 GMT), Mr. Vladimir Putin (President of Russia) announced a “military operation” in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. Not forgetting, this area is home to many Russian-speaking Ukrainians. And parts of it have been occupied and run by Russian-backed rebels since 2014.
According to Mr. Putin, Russia was intervening as an act of self-defense. Russia did not want to occupy Ukraine, he said, but would demilitarise and “de-Nazify” the country. He urged Ukrainian soldiers in the combat zone to lay down their weapons and go home. But, he then said clashes were inevitable and “only a question of time.”
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Additionally, he said that any intervention from outside powers to resist the Russian attack would be met with an “instant” and devastating response. Following the events, some news correspondents heard loud bangs in the capital city of Kyiv. As well as Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
There were also blasts in the southern port city (Odesa). In meantime, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had carried out missile strikes on Ukraine’s infrastructure and on border guards. However, Russia’s defense ministry has denied attacking Ukrainian cities.
Whilst, saying it was targeting military infrastructure, air defense, and air forces with “high-precision weapons.” The attacks on Thursday came as weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia failed to deter Putin, who had massed between 150,000 and 200,000 soldiers along the borders of Ukraine.
What Is The Background To The Crisis Conflict?
In reality, Ukraine — which was part of the Russian empire for centuries before becoming a Soviet republic — won independence as the USSR broke up in 1991. It moved to shed its Russian imperial legacy and forge increasingly close ties with the West.
A decision by Kremlin-leaning Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to reject an association agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Moscow led to mass protests that saw him removed as the leader in 2014. Russia responded by annexing Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and throwing its weight behind a separatist rebellion that broke out in Ukraine’s east.
Ukraine and the West accused Russia of sending its troops and weapons to back the rebels. Moscow denied that, saying the Russians who joined the separatists were volunteers. According to Kyiv, more than 14,000 people have died in the fighting that devastated Donbas, Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland.
Learn More: Why is Russia invading Ukraine and what does Putin want?
For its part, Moscow has strongly criticized the United States and its NATO allies for providing Ukraine with weapons and holding joint drills, saying that such moves encourage Ukrainian hawks to try to regain the rebel-held areas by force.
Furthermore, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO are a red line and expressed concern about plans by some NATO members to set up military training centers in Ukraine. This, he has said, would give them a military foothold in the region even without Ukraine joining NATO.
How The Russia Ukraine Crisis Conflict Invasion Broke Out
Shelling in the Donbas region had intensified since Monday when Putin recognized the two breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent and ordered the deployment of what he called peacekeepers, a move the West called the start of an invasion.
On Wednesday, the separatists issued a plea to Moscow for help to stop alleged Ukrainian aggression — claims the US dismissed as Russian propaganda. Russia launched a full-scale invasion on Thursday shortly after Putin said he had authorized military action to defend itself against what he said were threats emanating from Ukraine.
Russian missiles hit multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, as Ukraine reported columns of troops pouring across its borders into the eastern Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Luhansk regions, and landing by sea at the cities of Odesa and Mariupol in the south.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law and appealed to world leaders to impose all possible sanctions on Russia, including on Putin, who he said wanted to destroy the Ukrainian state.
Tanks Enter Ukraine & Troops Match In
Following Mr. Putin’s televised speech announcement, tanks and troops poured into Ukraine at points along its eastern, southern, and northern borders, Ukraine says. The Russian military convoys crossed from the Belarus region.
While, thereafter, landing in Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv region. And from Russia into the Sumy region — also in the north, Ukraine’s border guard service (DPSU) said. For your information, Belarus is a long-time ally of Russia. Analysts describe the small country as Russia’s “client state.” Convoys also entered the eastern Luhansk and Kharkiv regions.
And then, moved into the Kherson region from Crimea — a territory that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The Russian offensive was preceded by artillery fire and there were injuries to border guards, the DPSU said. There have also been reports of troops landing by sea at the Black Sea port cities of Mariupol and Odesa in the south.
Read Also: Ukraine Crisis: Is Russia Waging An Information War?
A British resident of Odesa told a BBC News Reporter that many people are already leaving. Notwithstanding, for the fear of following the victims of the Russia-Ukraine Crisis Conflict — something that seems to continue for a while. Unfortunately, there are about 10 civilian killings to note so far. Including six in an airstrike in Brovary near the capital Kyiv.
Notably, a man was also killed in shelling outside the major eastern city of Kharkiv. Basically, a Ukrainian presidential adviser said that more than 40 soldiers had died and dozens more were wounded. Whilst, Ukraine said it had killed 50 Russian troops.
The Ukraine Armed Forces Are Fighting Back
According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, they had shot down five Russian planes and a helicopter — something Russia strongly denies — and inflicted casualties on invading troops. But, later on, Thursday, President Zelensky said Ukraine had suffered losses and a lot of aircraft and armored vehicles had been destroyed.
Russia said it has destroyed more than 70 military targets in Ukraine. Much of the fighting appears to be centered around the east of the country. Clashes have also been taking place around Kyiv, the Black Sea port cities of Odesa and Mariupol. Ukraine has declared martial law – which means the military takes control temporarily.
Ukraine has cut diplomatic ties with Russia, offered weapons to anyone who wants them, and declared an overnight curfew for Kyiv. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba implored the world to impose devastating sanctions, including banning Russia from the international Swift bank transfer system.
In Kyiv, there are huge jams on expressways as people flee the city. Social media testimonies speak to a growing sense of panic. With some saying they are being rushed into bomb shelters and into basements. Television footage has shown people praying in the streets. There were long queues at petrol stations and cash machines. Perse, many people did not expect such a full-on assault.
The World Condemns Mr. Vladimir Putin
With all the ongoing events, the seating US President Joe Biden said Mr. Putin had “chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.” He said he would address Americans on Thursday about the consequences Russia would face.
By the same token, the current UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the “hideous and barbaric venture by Vladimir Putin must end in failure.” Addressing Russians, he said: “I cannot believe this is being done in your name, or that you really want the pariah status it will bring to the Putin regime.” He told Ukrainians that the UK was “on your side”.
In other news, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia’s “reckless attack” saying it “puts at risk countless civilian lives.” Europe was “facing its darkest hours since World War Two”, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell Fontelles said.
However former US President Donald Trump says Mr. Putin took advantage of American “weakness.” Perse, he even called Fox News to say that he didn’t believe that Putin “wanted to do this, initially.” Trump said, “I think he wanted to do something and negotiate, and it got worse and worse, and when he saw the weakness.”
The full scope of the Russian military operation was not immediately clear. Zelinsky called on all citizens who are ready to defend the country from Russian forces to come forward. Whilst, saying Kyiv would issue weapons to everyone who wants them.
What Really Happens Next?
The US has predicted that a Russia-Ukraine Crisis Conflict is quite unfortunate. Whereby, its attack to take Kyiv may cause up to 50,000 civilian casualties, along with that thousands of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers. European countries have been preparing for the likelihood of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing an assault.
President Biden, who has ruled out putting US troops on the ground in Ukraine, said Putin has chosen a premeditated war. A war that would bring a “catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.” He said he would speak to G7 leaders and promised Russia would be held “accountable”.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell also promised the toughest financial sanctions the bloc had ever imposed. Washington and London have previously spoken of personal sanctions.
The Big Question Yet Is: Why is Ukraine not in NATO?
More so, targeting the Russian president in the event of a major escalation in military action. Cutting Russia out of the SWIFT financial system, which moves money from bank to bank around the globe, would be one of the toughest financial steps they could take. And, in the end, damaging Russia’s economy immediately and in the long term.
The move could cut Russia off from most international financial transactions too. Including international profits from oil and gas production, which accounts for more than 40 percent of the country’s revenue. Keeping in mind, the US also holds one of the most powerful financial weapons against Putin if he invades Ukraine – blocking Russia from access to the US dollar.
Generally, the currency still dominates in financial transactions around the world, with trillions of dollars in play daily. The US is considering imposing export controls, potentially cutting Russia off from the high-tech as well. That, among other things, helps warplanes and passenger jets fly and powers smartphones.
Learn More: What’s NATO, and why does Ukraine want to join?
Russia has a war chest of more than $600bn in foreign exchange reserves and gold that it can use to prop up the currency and absorb the shock of sanctions. The prospect of war and sanctions disrupting energy and commodities markets poses an immediate threat to a global economy. Furthermore, now that we are all barely emerging from the pandemic.
Before I conclude, it seems like this is an ongoing Russia Ukraine Crisis Conflict — we can only be hopeful and pray for them at the moment. Remarkably, many people were out on the streets last night in this city — they were waving the Ukrainian flag. They said this was their land — they were going nowhere. Something we all take pride in — belonging somewhere.
NB: Supporting Ukrainian Businesses And Charities: The Best Places To Spend And Donate Money
Overall, this is what people have been expecting — something they have been waiting for. But, no one here can quite believe it’s actually happening. Economically, oil prices surged above $100 for the first time in more than seven years. Meanwhile, Russia’s currency, the Russian Rouble (RUB), fell to an all-time low against the dollar and the euro.
At the same time, the London Stock Exchange’s leading FTSE 100 index plunged more than 200 points, or 2.7%, within moments of opening. That’s all for now. So, are you in Ukraine? Are you or your family affected? You can Contact Us for moral support or even mailto [email protected] for more help. You can also donate to motivate us.
