Politics
Why Did Russia Just Invade Ukraine?
February 24, 2022
Early this morning Russian President, Vladimir Putin, ordered his troops to invade Ukraine on the premise of “demilitarizing and de-Nazifying” the country. Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, rebutted Mr. Putin’s claim that Ukraine was protecting neo-Nazis by reminding him that eight million Ukrainian lives were lost in World War II. Mr Putin claims that the intention of the invasion is to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine, particularly those in the People’s Republic of Donetsk and the People’s Republic of Luhansk. Both republics are in the Donbass region in Eastern Ukraine and were officially recognized as independent states by Mr. Putin when he approved the bill earlier this week. Since 2014 these regions have been controlled by pro-Russian separatists. The separatists control one third of both statelets and the conflict between the Ukrainian military and the separatists has been ongoing for years despite the apparent ceasefire.
After the Soviet Union collapsed at the end of the Cold War in 1991 Russia’s economy took a hit, and with less land in its control its superpower status decreased. When Ukraine cited its plans to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Mr. Putin saw it as a threat to Russia‘s national security with the possibility of a NATO backed Ukraine able to use its power to reclaim Donbass as well as the Crimea Peninsula.
Words: Alice I’Anson 2022
Cover Image: Max Kukurudziak via Unsplash
The invasion of Ukraine is by far the most aggressive act Mr. Putin has conducted, and while pro-government civilians and military personnel are in favor of the attack many Russian public figures such as journalists and municipal deputies have signed petitions and written letters urging citizens to avoid engaging in the violence and to speak out against it. One letter, signed by over a hundred local politicians states, “We, the deputies elected by the people, unreservedly condemn the attack of the Russian army on Ukraine….This is an unparalleled atrocity for which there is and cannot be justification.”
While Mr. Putin has said he does not intend to invade Ukraine, he has in fact done so, he has said he doesn’t want to occupy Ukraine, but it’s looking more and more as though he is. The goal of the invasion is still unclear however, it has been speculated that a Ukrainian regime change could be the likely driver behind the attack.