THE FIGHT IN UKRAINE

Skirmishes between Russia and Ukraine have been going on for years, but it’s been a year since Russia’s major invasion began in 2022.

Ukraine historical snapshot

Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine achieved a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and endured a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two forced famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which more than 8 million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although Ukraine achieved independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy and prosperity remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization and civil liberties.

Russia's occupation of Crimea in March 2014 and ongoing Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine have hurt economic growth and prevented it from being eligible to join NATO.

Population 43,7 million (2020)

Languages

Ukrainian (official) 67.5%,

Russian 29.6%, other 2.9%

Economic significance

After Russia, Ukrainian was the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic and it also accounted for more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output.

Until 2014, Ukraine was the main transit route for Russian natural gas sold to Europe, which earned Ukraine about $3 billion a year in transit fees, making it the country's most lucrative export service.

In 2017, Ukraine redirected trade activity toward the EU, displacing Russia as its largest trading partner.

The invasion

On Feb. 23, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a speech in Russian in which he appealed to the citizens of Russia to prevent war. A day later, Russia invaded Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the objective was to “demilitarize” and “de-nazify” Ukraine. Putin and Kremlin media continue to deny that the Russian invasion is a war, instead describing it as a special military operation.

Death toll

There is no exact number and media outlets have conflicting estimates. But according to U.S. Defense Department estimates in November the total deaths were:

100,000 Russian and 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or injured in the war.

In January, Gen Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested about 40,000 civilians had died after being caught up in the conflict.

Arrows show Russian advance

Russian advances in red in March

Russian advances in red from October to February

Refugee situation

The invasion has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. In the first week of the invasion, the UN reported more than 1 million refugees had fled Ukraine; this subsequently rose to at least 7,405,590 by Sept. 24, and 8 million by Thursday. About 2.5 million refugees have fled to Russia and 1.5 million are in Poland.

87% of the refugees are women.

5% indicate children have been separated from parents.

Regions Russia claimed to annex

Russia annexes Crimea in 2014

Crimea

Ukrainian counteroffensive in Donetsk

Main effort in Eastern Ukraine

INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR Ukrainian counteroffensive in south.

INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR Mid-May Ukraine has likely won the battle of Kharkiv. Russian forces continued to withdraw from the northern settlements around Kharkiv city. September Ukrainian forces launch counteroffensives in the south in August and in the northeast in September. Sept. 30 Russia announces that four areas of the invasion are Russian territory, which it had partially conquered during the invasion. This annexation is generally unrecognized and condemned by the countries of the world. Putin announces that he would begin conscription drawn from the 300,000 citizens with military training and potentially the pool of about 25 million Russians who could be eligible for conscription.

INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR Notable events March 14 Russian forces made small territorial gains in Luhansk Oblast, but did not conduct any major attacks toward Kyiv or in northeastern Ukraine. Russian forces continue to assemble reinforcements and attempt to improve logistical support in both the Kyiv and southern operational directions. April 14 The Russian missile cruiser Moskva, flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, sinks after a likely Ukrainian anti-ship missile strike on April 13. April 19 Russia launches a renewed attack across a 300-mile long front extending from Kharkiv to Donetsk and Luhansk in the east.

UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY Less than 100,000 1 million or more