Among the greatest questions of the day is the status of the Russo-Ukrainian War. The conflict has already displaced more than seven million refugees and continues to target civilian infrastructure. The war has also killed more than 14,000 people. The majority of the refugees are women and children, and the violence has a particular impact on women.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggressive actions in the Ukrainian territory have led to a number of consequences. The Ukrainian government was able to defend itself in many areas, and the Russian forces were forced into humiliating retreats.
The Russian government has also amassed tens of thousands of troops in its border areas with Ukraine. A leading Russian general said that Russia could seize land along the Black Sea coast beyond Odesa and Moldova.
Russia’s aggressive actions have also heightened political tensions in Ukraine. Mass demonstrations swept the country in 2014, resulting in the removal of President Viktor Yanukovych, who had a Kremlin-friendly record. Yanukovych resurfaced in Russia, where he declared himself acting president.
The Kremlin responded to the protests by arming separatists in the Donbas region, in the southeast of Ukraine. The Ukrainian government accused the Russians of supporting rebels, but Russia denied this.
In the wake of the Russian attack, the Ukrainian government declared itself on a “full combat alert” against the possibility of Russian invasion. A Russian spokesman argued that the armed forces in Ukraine were underfunded and disorganized, and could not mount a credible response.