BREAKING NEWS
Ukraine Under Attack
The Eastern European nation battles for itssurvival after an invasion by Russian forces.
Early in the morning on Thursday, February 24, Russia’s militaryattacked several cities in the neighboring country of Ukraine. Fivedays later, hundreds of Ukrainians have been killed or wounded, and millions of others have been forced to flee their homes. Meanwhile, Ukrainian fighters are putting up a fierce resistanceagainst the much larger Russian forces.
Many world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, havecondemned the invasion.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is Ukraine’s history with Russia?
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe that borders Russia (seemap, below). From 1922 to 1991, the two were part of the samecountry, the Soviet Union. The massive nation had a Communistgovernment. After World War II (1939-1945), the U.S. and the Soviet Union were the world’s two superpowers. They were also rivals. A long period of tension between the two countries, known as the Cold War, followed. It ended in 1991, when the Soviet Union broke into 15 separate countries, including Russia and Ukraine.
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, is one of America’s topadversaries. Since coming to power in 1999, he has kept tightcontrol of Russia’s government and its people. He has jailedRussians who criticize him and politicians who challenge hispower.
Volodymyr Zelensky was elected president of Ukraine in 2019. Since then, he has worked to become a closer ally with the U.S. This has angered Putin.
Why did Russia invade Ukraine?
Putin has said the goal ofthe invasion is to “performpeacekeeping functions.” He claims Russia isdefending two regions ineastern Ukraine. Thoseareas are controlled byseparatists—people whowant to break away fromUkraine.
But experts believe Putin istrying to build Russia into asuperpower like the SovietUnion once was. U.S. officials say Russia wants to removeZelensky from power and replace him with leaders who are loyalto Putin.
How has Ukraine reacted to the invasion?
Photo by Ukrainian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
President Zelensky gave animpassioned speech hoursbefore the invasion. Hewarned Russia that theUkrainian people wouldnot back down.
“When you attack us, youwill see our faces, not ourbacks,” he said.
Ukrainians have ralliedaround their president. Though badlyoutnumbered, Ukrainianforces have surprised Russia by putting up a brave defense of theirhomeland. Across the country, civilian volunteers have taken upweapons to try to stop the Russian assault.
What is the rest of the world doing to help?
Many world leaders have spoken out against the invasion. President Biden has stated that he will not send U.S troops to fightfor Ukraine. However, the U.S is one of many nations sendingweapons and supplies to Ukraine to aid in its defense.
The U.S. and its allies in Europe have also announced severesanctions against Russia. Sanctions are official actions meant topunish a country by hurting its economy. For example, several ofRussia’s biggest banks have been blocked from doing business inmany countries. The goal of the sanctions is to make the war toocostly for Russia to continue fighting.
“Putin chose this war,” Biden said in a speech on the first day ofthe attack. “And now he and his country will bear theconsequences.”
Meanwhile, crowds have gathered in major cities around the globeto protest the Russian invasion. Demonstrations have even takenplace in Russia, where thousands of protesters have beenarrested.
What will happen to the people of Ukraine?
Officials from Russia and Ukraine met on Monday to discuss anend to the fighting, but they did not reach an agreement. At thesame time, Russia stepped up its bombings of major cities. Fordays, countless Ukrainians have been seeking shelter inbasements and subway stations.
Throughout the country, up to 7 million people have left theirhomes, according to one estimate. More than 600,000 of themhave fled to neighboring countries as refugees.
A 40-mile-long line of Russian tanks and other military vehicles isslowly moving toward Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. On Sunday, areporter from The New York Times interviewed a woman about 6miles from capital. Though she’d been sheltering in a parkinggarage for days, she said she wouldn’t abandon her home country.
“We can’t just leave, we cannot just surrender,” she said. “We willalways stay on our land.”
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