The Russian invasion of Ukraine has left millions of civilians displaced and hundreds of thousands dead. The Russian military has failed to accomplish its military goals and has lost significant amounts of materiel and troops. The Ukrainian population, including apolitical Ukrainians, has resisted the Russian invasion and is fighting back.

The recent Ukrainian elections have shown that the pro-Western candidates have comfortable majorities in all the oblasts. The recent Ukrainian election was shaped by bread and butter concerns and hopes for resolving the conflict in the Donbas region. However, the outcome is still unclear. In the meantime, Ukraine is facing the threat of Western sanctions.

The Russian government’s latest strategy is to deny Ukrainian sovereignty. Russia has claimed that Ukraine is a creation of the Soviet Union, and that the country should be renamed after its founding leader, Vladimir Lenin. This attempt to deprive Ukraine of statehood could have devastating consequences on the Ukraine’s economy and its people.

The Ukrainians are pushing south from their northern line. Their aim is to take the larger city of Kherson. However, they are expecting heavy resistance if they attempt to capture the larger city.