Ukraine

By Keenan W.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has been going on since 24 February 2022. This invasion has been racking up a death toll of more than 6,000 civilians (“Ukraine: Civilian Casualty”). Yet, what many fail to realize is that the Russo-Ukrainian War has existed since 2014, and tensions between Ukraine and Russia have been present since Obama’s first term as president. This war has been a long time coming and leaders across the world have failed to take action. 

The History of Ukraine

From the 14th to the 18th century, parts of Ukraine were ruled by Lithuania, Poland, and Russia. Cossacks also controlled a region called the Hetmanate, which was largely self-governing. In the 18th century, most of Ukraine fell under Russian rule. After World War I and the Russian Revolution of 1917, most of the Ukrainian region became part of the Soviet Union. However, parts of western Ukraine were divided between Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia. Under Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Ukraine suffered the Holodomor famine in 1932–33. During World War II, Ukraine was invaded by Axis armies in 1941 and further devastated before being recaptured by the Soviet Union in 1944. By the end of the war, the borders of the Ukrainian S.S.R. had been redrawn to include the western Ukrainian territories (Britannica).

Ukraine was the site of the 1986 Chernobyl accident at a Soviet-built nuclear power plant. Ukraine declared independence in 1991. During the 1990s, when it attempted economic and political reforms, it was rocked by turmoil, culminating in the disputed presidential election of 2004. This result prompted protests which became known as the Orange Revolution. The revolution had short-lived effects, however, and the country remained divided along regional and ethnic lines for some time. Another mass protest movement—this one centered on Kyiv’s Maidan (Independence Square)—toppled the government in 2014. During the interim government's efforts to resolve the country's dire economic situation, Russian troops occupied the Ukrainian autonomous republic of Crimea. Shortly thereafter, in March 2014, Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and was annexed by Russia. Fighting between pro-Russian separatists militias and Ukrainian government forces remained ongoing in eastern Ukraine. In late 2012,  Russia began a military buildup along its border with Ukraine, and in February 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine (Britannica).

Why Russia Wants Ukraine

To understand why Russia wants Ukraine, you have to understand Putin. Putin was originally part of the KGB (the Soviet Union’s security agency) and is a big patriot. He believes in the picture of a united Soviet Union. He believes in independence from the influences of Western control. Additionally, geographically, Ukraine acts as a barrier or gateway to the west. When Ukraine was still a part of the Soviet Union, Russia was protected from the west by Ukraine, though when Ukraine gained independence that gateway opened, physically and figuratively putting Russia in danger (Moore). These reasons alone could be why Putin chose to invade Ukraine. Another piece of the puzzle, though, is the fact that after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine held about one-third of the Soviet nuclear arsenal, the third-largest in the world at the time, as well as significant means of its design and production (Ukraine Special Weapons). Nuclear weapons in the hands of other countries, the west, and NATO poses a danger for Russia, and because of that, Nuclear weapons and bases in Ukraine need to become part of the USSR once again (Moore). 

 

How The War Could Have Been Prevented

When looking at the history of Ukraine, it’s clear that the recent invasion of Ukraine could have been prevented. As the Polish Prime Minister said, many of the world’s wealthiest countries “overslept” when it came to preventing the war (Jha). Usually, when we look at the conflicts around the world, we often see the US stepping into to play the mediator, acting like a mother hen among her chicks, or serving swift action against what it deems as injustice. Yet, we don’t see any of that happening here. During the first days and weeks of the Ukraine invasion, countries and their support have been silent. Why is it that so few people truly tried to help? Although it is debatable, there are a few factors that contributed. The first is the fact that Covid-19 truly has caused us to be more disconnected from each other than ever before. As authors Valeria Saladino, Davide Algeri, and Vincenzo Auriemma of The Psychological and Social Impact of Covid-19: New Perspectives of Well-Being scientific paper state, “The social distance and the security measures [of Covid-19] have affected the relationship among people and their perception of empathy towards others.”  This causes us to be less likely to help each other, lend a hand, or stand up. Additionally, the “Age of Social Media” has contributed to the idea that we’re helping a cause or situation by either just posting something or commenting online, leaving little to be done in the real world. Furthermore, whatever the beliefs or political parties of other country leaders, especially the president of the US, the world is obviously currently a perfect mix of leaders who are unlikely to do anything but impose sanctions. Because of all of these factors, the war could have ultimately been prevented if circumstances had been different.

 

What The War Means For The Rest Of Us

Of course, the biggest loss in this war is the lives and liberties of those in Ukraine. That being said, the rest of the world is also suffering, but in a different way. Russia is the world’s largest exporter of natural mineral fuels and oils (Melkadz). It is also the world’s largest exporter of wheat and it has giant mineral, stone, and gem reserves. So, even though sanctions might impact Russia, the ties cut between the country and the rest of the world have an even worse impact on other nations. Additionally, Putin put a lot of things in place before invading, like increasing Russia’s gold reserves and setting up a separate banking system. Because of this, Russia, for the most part, is doing okay, though the countries who are really suffering are third-world countries that feel the effects of sanctions and a loss of exports the most. If no changes or action is made to quicken or end the current war, we’ll see prices spike (especially since a lot of storage and reserves weren’t full after the pandemic). All of this will cause a lack of resources and we’ll see a huge increase in poverty, global hunger, debt, failure of businesses, etc (Kammer, Alfred, et al). 

 

What You Can Do

As mentioned before, it seems like most people try to “help” the situation in Ukraine by posting or commenting about it on Social Media and somehow trying to become social activists. Nonetheless, no amount of Instagram posts will help to stop a bombing or shooting. Because of that, there should be and are different ways you can help Ukraine or prepare for whatever aftermath. Firstly, it’s always good to help out in your own community, in case any other countries would start warring against Russia, starting a more global war (become prepared for whatever may happen and take note that resources and everyday supplies might become less or more delayed). Additionally, you can support volunteers outside Ukraine who are collecting the necessary supplies in their countries to then send or give to other volunteers or the Ukraine border. You can also donate to certified Ukraine support funds or help to pay for Ukrainian refugees’ housing on sites like Airbnb. On the same train of thought, you can also help host or house refugees in your own home. Furthermore, keep up to date with the news and latest information, but do not fall prey to propaganda, fearmongering, or fake news. Educate yourself on what’s going on in the world, because ultimately, knowledge is the best weapon and the best tool to either help out or stay safe. 

In conclusion, the war in Ukraine is devastating, unjust, and inhumane. As a society, we should’ve learned from our mistakes during the first and second World Wars, Afghanistan, Iraq, and so many more countries. Ultimately, though, the war has been a long time coming, we’ve missed the signs and didn’t act when we were supposed to. Nonetheless, we should help out in ways that actually make a difference and focus on preventing situations like Ukraine in the future.

For those still suffering in Ukraine right now, we have all of you in our thoughts. 

Keenan W. is in 11th Grade and has been with NSA since 2019. She lives in South Africa with her family and their dogs on a grape farm. Keenan plays both the piano and the mandolin. She is also an avid reader, loves music, and enjoys watching 2000s movies. Some of her interests include psychology, criminal justice, international affairs, forensics, and politics. She hopes to one day pursue a career in forensic psychology.

🔎InformationalEIC NSA2021-2022, May 2022 Publication