Update On The Russo-Ukrainian War

On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President, officially started one of the largest conflicts in European history since World War II when he ordered the Russian Armed Forces to invade Ukraine (Costa). Over the last ten months, Ukraine has been bombarded by multiple Russian missile attacks which have not only impacted Ukraine, but also several surrounding countries and reaching across the ocean to the United States (Costa). Diplomats and American leaders try to make peace through negotiating a cease fire and imposing sanctions, but Ukranian officials believe that a cease fire will only help build the Russian advantage allowing them to reinforce their position in Ukraine, and sanctions will only increase tensions.

According to NPR, 40 cruise missiles and 16 Iranian-made drones struck Ukraine on October 22, 2022. Ukrenergo representatives report, “The extent of the damage has set a new record, eclipsing the attacks the country sustained earlier in October.” This attack marking the largest escalation in the invasion since February 24, 2022.

While Russia continues its missile attacks, the sanctions continue to increase (Costa). One of the latest sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom against four Russian oligarchs on November 2, 2022. The two most notable ones Alexander Abramov and Alexander Frolov, for their association with Roman Abramovich, a previous stakeholder in Russian steel manufacturer Evraz. Abramov and Frolov have a net worth of 4.1 billion pounds and 1.7 billion pounds respectively. The two others, Airat Shaimiev and Albert Shigabutdinov, have a 902 million pound net worth and and 977 million pound net worth respectively. All four of them are subject to travel bans, asset freezes, and transport sanctions.

When Russia’s president Vladimir V. Putin was retreating, he started to threaten a nucleur outcome. These statements coming after President-elect Joe Biden said that Ukraine could become a nuclear “Armageddon”. With the tensions heating up, John Kirby, a National Security Council spokesperson said, “ President Joe Biden’s comments this week suggesting Russia’s war in Ukraine could escalate to a nuclear “Armageddon” were not based on any new intelligence.

Concerns over claims of human rights violations continue to escalate after Human Rights Watch documented several cases of War-law violations by Russian troups. Claims inclue incidents of rape, execution, mass graves, and threats against civilians. Hugh Williamson the European and Central Asia Director of Human Rights took a strong stance on the situation when he declared, “Rape, murder, and other violent acts against people in the Russian forces’ custody should be investigated as war crimes.”

As Russian forces lose ground to Ukraine, they fight back with missile strikes, human rights violations, and threats of nuclear warfare. Nevertheless, Ukraine continues to push back with the help of other countries.