Ukraine’s Encounter with the Russian Invasion
The Buildup of Russian Forces and the Battle of Kyiv
In the months between October and November 2021, there was a significant increase in the number of Russian troops and military equipment near the border with Ukraine. Additional forces were also sent to Belarus, supposedly for joint exercises, as well as to Transdniestria in Moldova and Crimea which is occupied by Russia. By February 2022, experts from Western defense estimated that there were around 190,000 Russian troops surrounding Ukraine and warned about the possibility of a Russian invasion which was considered imminent. However, Russian President Putin denied these claims and stated that the increase in Russian naval presence in the Black Sea was a previously planned exercise. In an attempt to prevent an inevitable Russian invasion, leaders from the West consulted with both Ukrainian President Zelensky and Putin. However, Putin’s demands included having veto power over NATO expansion and limiting NATO forces to countries that were members before 1997. This would essentially remove NATO’s security protection from Eastern and Southern Europe, as well as the Baltic states. These proposals were ultimately rejected.
On February 21, 2022, Putin acknowledged the autonomy of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in response. He then ordered Russian troops to enter Ukrainian territory under the guise of being “peacekeepers.” This was a clear shift from the Kremlin’s previous denials of any involvement in the ongoing military actions in Donbas since 2014. In solidarity with Ukraine, Western leaders imposed sanctions on Russian financial institutions. In the early hours of February 24, Zelensky directly addressed the Russian people, appealing for peace while also declaring Ukraine’s determination to defend itself. Shortly after, at approximately 6:00 am Moscow time, Putin announced the start of a “special military operation” through a televised address. Explosions were soon heard in major Ukrainian cities and air raid sirens blared in Kyiv. Global leaders swiftly condemned the unprovoked attack and promised to impose harsh sanctions on Russia. In response, Zelensky declared a state of martial law and called for a general mobilization of Ukraine’s military-aged population.
It appears evident that Putin’s strategy was to take control of Kyiv quickly and establish a pro-Moscow government. In the early stages of the invasion, a specialized Russian paratrooper unit successfully captured Hostomel Airport, located just 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Kyiv, through an air attack. Russian soldiers stationed in Belarus crossed the Ukrainian border and took over the Chernobyl nuclear plant as part of their advancement towards Kyiv on the western bank of the Dnieper River. Meanwhile, Russian troops in Crimea marched north and seized Kherson on March 2. However, the Russian progress was halted by a strong defensive effort from Ukraine. Despite being in close proximity (20 miles or 32 km) to the Russian border, the attempted encirclement of Kharkiv failed, and the push towards Kyiv was eventually abandoned due to fierce resistance from Ukraine and obvious logistical shortcomings on the Russian side.
The Crisis of Ukrainian Refugees and Russian Atrocities
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has resulted in a large number of Ukrainian refugees seeking shelter in other countries. On March 2, 2022, a group of these refugees, mostly women and children, were seen arriving at a train station in Germany. Russia-Ukraine WarAnother group was captured on March 31, 2022, at a railway station in Przemyśl, Poland, after traveling from the war-torn Ukraine.
As Russia launched indiscriminate rocket and artillery strikes on civilian populations, millions of Ukrainians were forced to flee the nation. On March 16, the besieged city of Mariupol saw the loss of 600 lives when a Russian air strike destroyed the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre. It was common knowledge that the theatre was being used as the main bomb shelter for the city, as the set designer had painted the word “CHILDREN” in large Cyrillic letters on the pavement outside, visible even in satellite imagery. By the end of March, the number of Ukrainians who had fled the conflict reached four million, making it the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. The vast majority of these refugees sought safety in neighboring countries like Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
As the war progressed into its second month, it became evident that the attack on Kyiv had failed drastically. The Russian soldiers stationed at Hostomel were cut off and facing intense bombardment from Ukrainian artillery, while those occupying the Kyiv suburbs of Irpin and Bucha were committing brutal acts of violence against innocent civilians. Following the Russian retreat from Irpin and Bucha, Ukrainian troops discovered mass graves, bodies exhibiting signs of torture, and other proof of war crimes. On other parts of the front, the Russians deliberately targeted important cultural sites, hospitals, and water treatment facilities, all in clear violation of the Geneva Conventions. Additionally, looting of civilian properties was rampant in areas controlled by Russian forces.
The decline of Mariupol, the sinking of the Moskva, and Western assistance
Initially, the Russian military seemed to have a significant edge in manpower and resources, but the international community quickly stepped in to support Ukraine with billions in military aid. President Zelensky, often seen wearing an olive green T-shirt, used video calls to appeal to governments and intergovernmental organizations worldwide, warning them of a potential “new Iron Curtain” falling over Europe. While foreign assistance played a role, Ukraine’s military success was also attributed to the combat experience gained by those who had served in the ongoing conflict with Russian proxies in Donbas since 2014. Additionally, Ukraine’s military had undergone significant reforms since the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia, with a significant increase in defense spending during that time. Upon taking office, President Zelensky ordered a restructuring of Ukroboronprom, the state-owned entity responsible for Ukraine’s defense industry, which resulted in improved confidence and strategic partnerships with international companies like Lockheed Martin. One of the most notable displays of Ukraine’s progress in the military-industrial complex was on April 13 when the Ukrainian-produced Neptune anti-ship missiles struck the Moskva, a Russian guided missile cruiser and flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, off the coast of Odessa. The sinking of the Moskva the following day was a huge morale boost for Ukraine and further weakened the perception of Russia as a comparable adversary to the United States.
The month of May saw an increase in conflict in the Donbas region, leading Ukraine to launch a counteroffensive against Russian troops who posed a threat to Kharkiv. However, in the southern region, Mariupol eventually surrendered to the Russians after being under siege for almost three months, resulting in the once-thriving port city being left in ruins. The last remaining Ukrainian national guard units and marines, who had been occupying the Azovstal steel plant for over a month, were involved in intense battles, reminiscent of the Battle of Stalingrad. According to Ukrainian officials, the city had suffered significant damage, with an estimated 20,000 civilian casualties and 90% of its structures destroyed during the siege.
Several factors played a role in Russia’s decision to rely on attrition warfare in the Donbas region. The failed offensive in Kyiv showed that Russia’s armored units were not capable of executing even the most basic maneuvers of a blitzkrieg campaign. They were heavily reliant on roads and the fragile logistics and supply system of Russia for fuel and ammunition. Additionally, even the most advanced tanks in Russia’s arsenal proved to be vulnerable to Ukrainian anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) teams. Despite having a numerical advantage in aircraft, the Russian air force was unable to establish air superiority in any major combat zone. This left Russian armor vulnerable to Ukraine’s formidable array of unmanned aerial vehicles, ranging from modified consumer drones to the powerful Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2. The strict global embargo on advanced microprocessors imposed on Russia also meant that any computerized equipment lost in battle could not be easily replaced.
The failure of Russia’s main attack towards Kyiv, the sinking of the Moskva, and the deaths of several Russian generals were all part of Putin’s “special military operation” against Ukraine. This was the biggest ship lost in enemy action since the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano was torpedoed during the Falkland Islands War in 1982. As a result, Russia faced heavy sanctions and was cut off from the international banking system, while the EU, US, UK, and Canada closed their airspace to Russian traffic. In contrast, Ukraine was seen as a developing democracy fighting against an autocratic neighbor, and on June 23, it was granted candidate status in the EU. The Russian invasion also gave NATO a renewed sense of purpose and solidarity, with Finland and Sweden, traditionally neutral countries, signaling their intent to join the alliance. This was further solidified when both countries signed accession protocols on July 5. Instead of weakening the alliance, Putin’s actions had essentially turned the Baltic Sea into a NATO-controlled territory.