One Month Since…
It’s been one month of devastation, filled with images of obliteration, since Russian leader Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and started a war with international ramifications. As we attend classes, cities are being bombed by missiles and air strikes, buildings are being destroyed through artillery barrages and carpet bombings, civilians are being executed by roving death squads in what some have called a wave of “war crimes,” “crimes against humanity” and “genocide” and families are fleeing, hiding, fighting and dying. And somehow, amidst these images of Armageddon, Ukraine has resisted and blunted the assaults through determination, innovative tactics, training and a skillful use of Javelin missiles, “stingers,” anti-tank weapons and guerilla like strikes against cumbersome Russian military columns of tanks, armored troop carriers and troops. Ukraine has also benefited from international sanctions against Russia and assistance from NATO and other supportive nations.
Mariupol, a Black Sea port city in southern Ukraine, is facing major issues. Thousands have attempted to escape from Mariupol but there was a pause in the evacuation due to the Red Cross not being able to reach the port city. Ukrainian authorities have reported thousands of people who have escaped but estimated as many as 100,00 people are trapped in Mariupol under hostile conditions. Mariupol used to be a thriving community with a population of 450,000 people but is now a blasted landscape. The Washington Post quotes the Mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boychenko, discussing the horrors the coastal port city is facing, “It’s genocide, they are destroying everything that lives.” People who have escaped Mariupol tell stories of the hunger, fear and survival they had faced in the hostile environment.
Reporters and military experts have noticed a Z-shaped letter that is hand-painted on Russian trucks and military forces. The most popular theory that has been composed is that the letters Z, as well as O, X, A and V, are written according to the areas the Russian troops are stationed at. Theories state that the letter Z might stand for Zapad, meaning west. Others believe that the symbol Z stands for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Approximately three days after the invasion the Kremlin-funded state network announced on their social media they would start selling merchandise with the letter Z, including hoodies and T-shirts to support the Russian troops. Since the public announcement of the symbol of the war, flash mobs began to occur across the countries that have been organized by Russian authorities. In these flashmobs, young Russians are seen wearing t-shirts with a Z showing their support for the war. The letter Z has now been hand-painted on Soviet-era apartments and is being advertised on streets with signs. Several schools have posted pictures of children standing in a formation that makes Z, which has been circulating the internet since Sunday. The image shows children from hospice in the southern city of Kazan forming a Z to show support for the war. The symbol has been unfortunately used outside of Russia as well, thousands of Serbians waved Russian flags and carried the letter Z through Belgrade towards the Russian embassy in support of Moscow for the invasion. Putin is known for creating and promoting signs and symbols to gather support for its military and government. During the annexation of Crimea, Russia promoted orange and black striped ribbons of Saint George which are still used today to publicly support the Russian government and military.
Russia has done enough damage to practically every major city in Ukraine, but what have the outside countries done to support Ukraine? Joe Biden had announced on Wednesday that the U.S. will spend $800 million on military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine. In CNBC’s recent article they discuss that the money will fund “800 aircraft’s systems, 9,000 antiarmor systems, 7,000 small-arm machine guns as well as grenade launchers and shotguns.” The U.S. hopes to be able to care for more than 3 million Ukrainians who have escaped the war as their country is crumbling to pieces. So far, Biden has allowed several hundred refugees and granted Ukrianians the ability to stay and work in the US for 18 months. The loophole here is, that this applies to only Ukrianians who were already residents in the US and the Biden administration has made it clear that Europe should be the primary destination for Ukraine to flee to. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has been tracking Ukraine’s refugee status ever since the invasion. The number of refugees increases every day and as of April 4, the data tracker shows 4.2 million refugees and that number is just going up from there. 60% of the refugees that escaped Ukraine fled to Poland, and 400,000 fled to Romania, 300,000 to Moldova, around 300,000 to Hungary and finally 220,000 to Slovakia. No one knows how long Putin’s war may continue but millions of Ukrainians could end up in difficult legal, financial and emotional situations. Many countries are showing their support and here is an insight into what countries are doing to provide for Ukraine as they are facing one of the worst crises since 2014:
France has allowed 7,500 refugees and said to welcome a total of 100,000 in the upcoming weeks. Local town halls are accommodating for those arriving in Calais who are waiting to get visas for the UK. The French government has created a website to connect familias get accommodations with resources. Paris is trying to integrate Ukrainian refugee children in the French school system.
Germany has welcomed over 100,000 refugees recorded by the federal police. As soon as the refugees arrived, Germany gave them the right to work and gave children access to education. Germany was one of the first countries to provide three trains to Poland with volunteers who serve food and water, helping Ukrainian access accommodations or organize their travels.
The UK has admitted 9,5000 visas from Ukrainian refugees but the environment the UK has created for the incoming refugees isn’t looking too good. An incident reported that there were 150 Ukrianians at the border in Calais who were told they had to return back to Paris or Brussels to get their visas processed when they were about to enter the UK; France’s Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin said that this act “lacked humanity” reported by Global Citizen. The UK has refused to offer Ukrainian open shelter, but instead is operating a limited family reunification and sponsorship system. This allows local citizens to provide housing for an individual or a family to stay with them at no cost for at least 6 months and in return receive a compensation of 350 euros a month. Specialists say that this operation will leave Ukrianians vulnerable to exploitation causing this tactic to be reevaluated. Italy has welcomed over 23,000 refugees and offered health care, psychological, legal and language assistance in reception centers.
Poland has allowed the most refugees and has been extremely welcoming considering that they are not the most prosperous country. They have allowed 1.8 million refugees and have established a large volunteer army who meet the refugees at the border. The refugees are greeted with “placards and tears,” food, blankets and medical supplies. Thousands of Polish families have offered hospitality to Ukiranians and even teachers have offered to set up temporary classes for the children. The Polish government just passed a law stating to give Ukranians residency for 18 months as well as provide financial support to communities, local authorities and families who host the refugees. Several other countries are doing their part to provide hospitality, medical support, education and financial support to help the Ukrainian refugees stay alive and escape the war.
The European Union has also shown support of Ukraine, on April 8th, the committee adopted a fifth deal of sanctions against Russia as they are continuing the horrific events in Ukraine. This package includes a ban on imports of coal and other solid fossil fuels from Russia, Russian and Belarusian road transport operators entering the EU, imports of wood, cement, seafood, liquor, jet fuel and deposits to cyrp-wallets.
Ukraine is facing terrible damage in cities like Mariupol, Borodyanka, Kharkiv, Lviv and many others. The atrocities committed by Russia are crushing Ukraine to the ground and the end of the war doesn’t seem soon. Countries that have welcomed refugees show how the world will come together to protect vulnerable people in danger. European nations have surprised themselves with their own ability to act in “concert.” They do it with a mixture of humanitarian concert and practical concern. “Who will be next?” they ask themselves.Will it be Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania? Will sections of Poland or Hungary be “reabsorbed” into the Putinsphere? Will Putin’s invasion open the door to Xi’s “reabsorption” of Taiwan? If you are not a nation involved in applying sanctions, or you are not condemning Russia, is there another role you might play as mediator or go-between? At what point might high ideals and principles crumble under fuel shortages and rising prices? Indeed, these are the times that try our souls.
Sources to consult:
Bennett, Dalton. “Thousands Trapped in Mariupol After Evacuation Effort Stalls.” Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2022, www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/01/russia-ukraine-war-news-putin-live-updates/. Accessed 12 Apr. 2022.
European Council, editor. “EU Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine.” Consilium.Europa.EU, 2022, www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-response-ukraine-invasion/. Accessed 12 Apr. 2022.
Lowery, Tess. “What Different Countries Are Doing (or Not) to Help Ukraine’s Refugees.” Global Citizen, 24 Mar. 2022, www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/ukraine-refugees-how-countries-globally-helping/. Accessed 12 Apr. 2022.
Mangan, Dan. “Biden details new aid to Ukraine, promises ‘more in the days and weeks ahead’ to help combat Russia invasion.” CNBC, 2022, www.cnbc.com/2022/03/16/russia-ukraine-news-biden-details-defense-assistance.html. Accessed 12 Apr. 2022.
Morris, Loveday. “Voices from the Siege of Mariupol.” Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2022, www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/30/mariupol-siege-voices-ukraine-war/. Accessed 12 Apr. 2022.
Sauer, Pjotr. “Why has the letter Z become the symbol of war for Russia?” The Guardian, 7 Mar. 2022, www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/07/why-has-the-letter-z-become-the-symbol-of-war-for-russia. Accessed 12 Apr. 2022.
