The Ukraine conflict, which broke out a year ago, has claimed hundreds of lives, driven millions from their homes, left entire cities in ruins, and stoked worries that Russia and NATO may engage in open warfare.
On Feb. 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin launches an invasion of Ukraine from the north, east and south. He says the “special military operation” is aimed at “demilitarisation” and “denazification” of the country to protect ethnic Russians, prevent Kyiv’s NATO membership and to keep it in Russia’s “sphere of influence.”
A country with a democratically elected government and a Jewish president whose ancestors perished in the Holocaust is being attacked illegally, according to Ukraine and the West.
On March 2, Russia asserts authority over the city of Kherson in the south. In the first few days of March, Russian forces also control much of the nearby Zaporizhzhia area, including the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, and the remaining Kherson region.
Below are ten facts about the Ukraine-Russia war that occurred in 2022.
1. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, which is internationally considered a war of aggression, is the largest military assault on the European State since World War II.
2. Russia Ukraine war has caused the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War with over 3.4 million Ukrainians fleeing the country.
3. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is actually a major escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict that started back in 2014.
4. Since 2014, the conflict between Ukraine Russia has damaged more than 700 schools and 130 medical centers. Breaches in ceasefires have also endangered more than 2,00,000 children.
5. The ongoing Russia Ukraine conflict has killed more than 10,000 people and has wounded at least 23,000.
6. The frontline of the war between Ukraine Russia stretched 280 miles across Ukraine resulting in the blockage of much of of country’s access to trade and supplies from the neighbouring countries and the United Nations.
7. In the ongoing conflict, apart from Russians, the Ukrainian military has also been fighting the rebels in Eastern Ukraine who are supported by Russia and want to become a part of Russia.
8. In response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, protests also took place in Russia against the Government ordering war on the neighboring country. Police detained around 5,020 people at Russia-wide protests against the invasion of Ukraine.
9. According to European Union’s top diplomat, as many as 5 million Ukrainian are expected to flee if Russia’s bombing continues.
10. The Defence Ministry of Russia has announced to open 6 humanitarian corridors in Kyiv, as well as other Ukrainian cities, however, Kyiv rejected the plan.