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.
Divided world
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UN convened its first emergency session in 25 years. The 193-member assembly has since voted on four special resolutions addressing various concerns with regard to Ukraine. The UN General Assembly passed a resolution by a large majority in October, calling on countries not to recognize the four regions of Ukraine that Russia has claimed.
The countries who voted against were Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, Russia and Syria. A majority of those countries abstaining were African nations, alongside China and India.
Reparations?
In November, nearly 50 nations cosponsored a resolution that calls for Russia to pay war reparations to Ukraine. The UN General Assembly passed the resolution, but not all were in favor.
The countries that voted against were Bahamas, Belarus, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Mali, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria and Zimbabwe.