Is Russia's Invasion of Ukraine - The Start of World War

In the early hours on 24th February 2022, Thursday, Russia attacked and launched the full-scale ‘Military Operation’ on its neighbor, Ukraine. It wasn't the beginning of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, but it was the start of wholescale war. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in eastern Ukraine. In a few minutes, the missile strikes were heard in most cities of Ukraine like Kharkiv, Odesa, and Donbas, including the capital, Kyiv, and not much later the Russian army invaded and entered the country.

The ongoing Russian-Ukraine conflict started when Ukraine in 2008 requested to join the NATO a.k.a. North Atlantic Treaty Organization but Russia didn’t want it to join NATO. Whenever Ukraine has requested to join NATO to strengthen the security of the country, Russia has opposed its decision and asked the west to assure them that Ukraine will never be a part of NATO.

It is not the first time Russia has invaded Ukraine, a seven-year-long conflict that started in 2014 Russia invaded the Crimea Peninsula has internationally been recognized as part of Ukraine. Russia eventually annexed the Crimea Peninsula of Ukraine. Before the invasion began on 24th February 2022, Russian President Putin gave a fiery speech to the citizens of Russia and apparently to the people of the world: He said, “The People’s Republic of Donbas asked Russia for help. I decided to conduct a special military operation. It aims to protect people who have been bullied and subjected to genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years. For that, we will strive to demilitarize and de-Nazification of Ukraine and will bring to justice those who committed multiple bloody crimes against civilians including Russian citizens'. Furthermore, addressing the Ukrainian army, he said, “We urge you to lay down your arms immediately, and go home. All servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Force who comply with this requirement, can freely, leave the area of military actions, and return to their families'. “Whoever would try to stop us and further create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and lead you to such consequences that you have never faced in your history. We are ready for any outcome.” Amid the invasion on 24th February 2022, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the citizens of Ukraine appealing to them to take up arms, “We are already handing out weapons, and will hand them out to defend our country to everyone who wants and can defend our sovereignty.”  “The future of Ukraine depends on every citizen. We broke off diplomatic relations with Russia. Ukraine is defending itself and will not give up its freedom, no matter what Moscow thinks.” “The Ukrainian armed forces are indeed involved in heavy fighting, repelling attacks in Donbas and other regions, east, north, south. The enemy sustained serious losses, and the enemy will sustain many more losses'. “Since this morning, we have wounded soldiers. In those hospitals, where blood is needed, please, I ask you to join and become blood donors for our defenders'.

After just a few hours of invasion by the Russian army troops, they seized control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant located in northern Ukraine. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shymhal announced on 24th February 2022 that “Unfortunately, I have to say that, as of now, the Chernobyl zone, the so-called exclusion zone, and all the Chernobyl facilities have been taken under control by Russian armed groups'. After the seizing of the Chernobyl nuclear plant by the Russian army, President Zelenskyy announced that on Day-1 of the invasion only 137 Ukrainian people were killed. Out of 137, 10 of them were officers. 316 people have been wounded. The border guards who were defending the Zmiinyi Island died a heroic death. They all will be awarded posthumously the title of the Hero of Ukraine. He said that he is and will remain in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv with his family as they are not traitors but citizens of Ukraine and will fight for its freedom.

Take of World Leaders on Russian-Ukraine War

The NATO member and United States President, Joe Biden, addressed the world on the night of Thursday, condemning Russia’s ‘unprovoked and unjustified' attack on Ukraine, he told the media that: “We have been transparent with the world, we have shared declassified evidence about Russia’s plans, and cyber attacks, and false pretext so, that there could be no confusion or cover-up about what Putin was doing'. “Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war and now he and his country will bear the consequences'. In addition, he announced the sanctions imposed by the U.S. government on Russian Federation.

Another NATO affiliate, the United Kingdom spoke on the Russian-Ukraine war. UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson made a statement on 24th February 2022 after the hours of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, “Shortly after 4 AM (GMT), I spoke to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine to offer the continued support of the UK because our worst fears have now come true and all our warnings have proved tragically accurate'. “President Putin of Russia has unleashed war in our European continent. He’s attacked a friendly country without any provocation and any credible excuse'. “Innumerable missiles and bombs have been ringing down on an entirely innocent population. A vast invasion is underway by land, by sea, and by air'. “Today, in concert with our allies we will agree on a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy and to that end, we must also collectively cease the dependence on Russian oil and gas that for too long has given Putin his grip on western politics'. “Our mission is clear, diplomatically, politically, economically, and eventually military. This hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure'.

Moreover, Prime Minister Johnson showed his support to the people of Ukraine with his words and asked them to keep the hope and morale up. China’s President Xi Jinping said that he talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone, talked to him about the invasion, and asked him to solve it through negotiation. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Russia’s attack and invasion of Ukraine. He stated that Germany stands in solidarity with Ukraine and its citizen. He said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a violation of international law and nothing can justify this heinous act.

Sanctions Against Russia From the U.S. and Other Territories

The White House on Saturday released a statement that “We commit to ensuring that selected Russian banks are removed from the SWIFT messaging system'. Along with its allies, the U.S. has blocked Russia’s second-largest financial institution, VTB Bank. Sweeping restrictions on Russia’s military to strike a blow to Putin’s military and strategic ambitions. Exports on all U.S. -origin items like software, technology, and equipment to the Russian Defense Forces are banned. Russia-wide restrictions on choke-off Russia’s import of technological goods are critical to the diversified economy and Putin’s ability to project power. This restriction applies to the manufacture of semiconductors, navigation, lasers, sensors, encryption security, telecommunication, avionics, and maritime technologies using U.S. origin software and technology in foreign countries. Full blocking sanctions on Russian elites and their family members: Nikolai Patrushev and his son Andrey, Galina Ulyutina, Igor Sechin and his Ivan, Sergei Ivanov and his son Sergei, Andrey Puchkov, Yuriy Soloviev and two real estate companies he owns Alexander Vedyakhin.

European Union has decided to freeze any European assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

United Kingdom - Boris Johnson on Friday announced that the Uk government will impose the Uk’s largest-ever package of sanctions against Russia and target the banks, and wealthy Russians who enjoy high-class London lifestyles. It has been announced that the British government will freeze the assets on major Russian Banks, and stop the major Russian businesses to raise finance in the UK. The British government has also banned the landing of Russia’s flagship airline Aeroflot in the United Kingdom. Ban on export of high technology exports and the extractive industry.

Canada has also announced the sanctions against Russia on Friday, 25th February 2022 targeting more than 62 individuals and organizations, including elite banks, and called off all the export permits. The Czech Republic has announced on Friday that it has banned Russian airlines from flying to the central European countries. Prime Minister Petr Fiala declared that Prague will exit from the two international banks set up in the Soviet era and the finance ministry will see the access of Czech Republic funds to the Russian-owned enterprises.

New Zealand has banned Russian travel and forbid trade with the Russian military and security forces. Australia has targeted many Russian elite citizens and lawmakers and condemned China’s move of easy trade restrictions with Moscow. Taiwanese government announced that it will impose restrictions on Russia’s export as the world’s largest contract chipmaker and will comply will all the export-control rules Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that Japan will inflict sanctions on Russia’s financial foundations and will halt the military equipment exports with Russia.

Where Does India Stand on Russian-Ukraine Crisis? On the day of the attack and invasion, Thursday, 24th February 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held the cabinet committee meeting to discuss the security issues. In the meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar were all present with PM Modi in a video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. PM Modi requested him to solve the conflict verbally with the government of Ukraine and also discussed the safe rescue of Indian students studying in Ukraine. At the United Nations Security Council on Friday, 25th February 2022, the draft resolutions arranged or sponsored by the U.S. were supported by countries like Albania, Poland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Estonia, New Zealand. However, India, China, and UAE ‘abstained’ from voting and kept the diplomatic stance. India’s ambassador to the United Nations T.S. Tirumurti issued the statement which explained India’s ‘abstain’ on the vote on the draft resolution by the U.S. India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. India has chosen to abstain from this resolution.

More than 20,000 Indian students are stuck in warzone Ukraine. They are all hiding in the different bomb shelters like subway stations, bunkers, the basement of the buildings and worried about their safety. Many of them posted their situations on social media and appealed to the government of India for the rescue.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed that he spoke to Slovakia and Hungary’s Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok and Péter SzijjártÓ about the safe evacuation of Indian students on 24th February 2022. The central government of India has also launched several helplines for the Indians stuck in different cities of Ukraine.

More than 300 Indian students were evacuated from Ukraine to Romania on 24th February 2022 via buses. The first Air India flight for the evacuation left from Mumbai, India to Bucharest, Romania on Saturday, 26th February 2022 at approx. 3.38 a.m. IST and landed in Bucharest at 10.45 Indian Standard Time. The first batch of Indian students evacuated from Ukraine through Romania landed in Mumbai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at around 7.50 pm with more than 210 students and so far 400 plus Indian students have been evacuated from Ukraine. This rescue operation has been named ‘Operation Ganga.’

Russia Wants to Talk With Ukraine to End the War

Russia invaded and attacked Ukraine on 24th February 2022 and claimed to have destroyed 118 Ukraine army vehicles, 87 army tanks, 28 rocket launchers, 7 aircraft, 7 helicopters, 9 Ukrainian UAVs. Russian missiles have hit buildings in the city of Kyiv. Ukrainian civilians have taken shelter in various bomb shelters. More than 250 civilians have been killed since the invasion started, and around 2,00,000 civilians have left Ukraine, informed UN. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated in public videos that he is not willing to leave the country, he will stay with his family and protect his nation. He has briefed that Ukraine has withstood and repelled the enemy attacks. Zelenskyy has requested the people of Ukraine to take up arms and fight for their country. Men who fall under the age of 16-60 are prohibited to leave the country and asked to join the Ukraine army and defend their country. On 25th February 2022, Friday, President Putin said that he is ready to talk with Ukraine to come to a possible solution to stop the war. He said the talks should be held in Belarus and is keen to send the delegation there. He asked the Ukrainian army to overthrow their government and take charge of the nation as it is easier to talk to them than the terrorists and the gang of drug addicts and neo-nazis referring to the Zelenskyy government. Ukraine turned down this offer. On 27th February 2022, Sunday, Putin again presented the proposal for talks to Ukraine. Putin proposed to talk in Belarus but the Ukraine government again declined the offer saying that the talks should be set up in places where safety is guaranteed like Warsaw, Baku, and Istanbul. As of Sunday, February 27, 2022, Russian troops have entered the second-largest city of Ukraine, Kharkiv, and Sumy. Attacks are still going on in the capital city of Kyiv as the Russian army is nearing central Kyiv.

Conclusion

As of 2023, the conflict has not been resolved and the situation remains tense. The Ukrainian government, with the support of the international community, continues to call for a peaceful resolution to the crisis and for Russia to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is also worth noting that the issue is not only political but also humanitarian, with the situation of human rights in the region, particularly in the annexed Crimea, being of concern.