The 2022 Russian-Ukrainian War
A historical and modern-day analysis of political and geographical conflict
For many of us, the attack on Ukraine in Februray of 2022 came as a brutal surprise. However, this attack is the result of the years of Russian expassion and imperialism. Our web module not only explains many of the crisises and policies of the war today, but also the historical context behind this dispute. Our web module also examines some of the prominet figures in the war such as Putin, Zelensky, and NATO.
"Cold, hunger, darkness and thirst are not as scary and deadly for us as your ‘friendship and brotherhood...But history will put everything in its place. And we will be with gas, light, water and food … and WITHOUT you!” - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
History of Russian Expansion
The Roman and Byzantine empire were the two largest Christian empires in 16th-century Moscow, Russia. They both had similar beginnings and endings. The Roman empire fell because of unsuccessful resistance to the barbarian invasions, and the Byzantine empire fell to the Ottomans. Russia and other communities they encountered while expanding are actually quite similar because most of them emerged from Mongol culture. They also encountered many individuals with different social and political backgrounds. Russia’s expansion is something to be noted, as it was known to be delicate and intricate. By the 18th century, Russia had shared borders with the Ottoman, Persian, and Chinese empires, and was even under Mongol rule for a long period. Russia regained control of its territory and began to expand.
Years later, a large group of Russians traveled to the Yaik River to trade. As they were returning, they were hit with a war from the Kazakhs. Many Russians were captured and became slaves. This capturing of the Russians shows the hostility towards them from non-Christians. As Russia began to expand into the southern steppe, they found geographical regions that were not familiar to them like the rest of Europe was. As this expansion continued, they found frontiers that were filled with a group of people called Nomads. Russia struggled to gain control of its regions from the nomadic for many years. These nomads had weak central governments and didn't have central leadership. Russian identities were really able to expand from muscovites and the nomads because of their cultural influence. Russia was able to expand so much because of its governmental status. They had a monarchy with a European style of government. As time moved on, Russia made itself known as an expanding territory, and it continued this rate of expansion throughout the Soviet period.
Works Cited
History of Ukrainian Territory
The following displays a series of maps of the Ukrainian territory from different points in time. They show the ever-changing territorial dispute over the Ukrainian territory and exhibit the importance of researching the context in which these maps were made.
Made in 1641
Commissioned by Crown Prince Nicholas Christopher Radziwill After the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth gained control of most of Ukraine. Engraved by Hessel Gerritsz and published by Willem Blaeu.
Made in 1648
This map survey was designated to Frenchman Guillaume le Vasseur de Beauplan on behalf of King Ladislaus IV of Poland. The king wanted to understand the land and its people in order to protect the territory from enemies (particularly the Tsardom of Russia). In these maps, Ukraine is divided into Palatinatus Kiioviensis, Palatinatus Braclaviensis, Podolia, Volyniae Pars, and Russiae Pars.
Made in 1779
This map was prepared for Peter the Great’s survey and shows “Novae Russiae” (New Russia). To declare dominance over Ukraine, Russian cartographers started to use the term “New Russia” instead of “Ukraine” in their maps. This new style was after the division of Ukraine between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Russian Empire.
Made in 1919
Presented by the Ukrainian People’s Republic at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, after the Ukrainian War of Independence
Made in 1920
This map shows Ukraine as a separate country for its brief period of independence following World War I.
Made in 1992
This map is from after the fall of the Soviet Union from the CIA.
Borders in 2014
This map shows the Ukrainian territory after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, made from Aljazeera.
This is a map of the Ukrainian territory as of September 30, 2022, from Aljazeera.
As seen in these maps, the territorial disputes in Ukraine are longstanding and ever-changing. Not only is the period in time in which this map was created important, but it is also important to recognize who is making these maps. Were they commissioned by someone, who were they aligned to? These questions are all very important in understanding the complexities of these borders. For example, the map made in 1919 by the URN is what the Ukrainian government saw to be their borders, but this is not necessarily what the rest of the world would have agreed on. Look toward the sea of Azov in both the Ukrainian-made map and the map from the National Surveying Company. These irregularities in the map designs are a reminder to research the origin of a certain map, as it can show age-old disputes in borders.
1991: Ukraine Declares Independence from Moscow
With the USSR already falling apart, Ukraine declared independence from Moscow on December 1, 1991. Shortly after, the USSR disbanded altogether.
2004: Viktor Yushchenko elected president
In 2004, Viktor Yanukovich, a pro-russian candidate, was declared president, however, vote-rigging accusations were made causing the Orange Revolution. This leads to a rerun and Yushchenko, a pro-western candidate, is elected as a result.
2005: Yuschenko promises to lead towards NATO and the EU
Yushchenko promises that Ukraine would start associating with NATO and the EU and that Ukraine would be stronger and healthier than ever.
2008: NATO promises that Ukraine can one day join alliance
2010: Yanukovich elected president
Yanukovich was finally elected president and is interested in completely changing the policies Yushchenko set in place.
2013: Yanukoivch looks to revive economic ties with Moscow
After suspending trade & association with the EU, Yanukovich wants to revive economic ties which then causes mass rallies in Kyiv for months.
2014 - February: Crimean Crisis
Mass protests lead to bloodshed, pushing Parliament to vote to remove Yanukovich from office. Days later, armed men seize parliament in Crimea and raise Russian flag, resulting in Moscow annexing the territory.
2014 - April: Pro-Russian separatists declare independence
After 15,000 people were killed in the fights between separatists and the Ukrainian army, Pro Russian separatists decided to declare independence.
2017: Ukraine and EU have an association agreement
Agreement allows open markets for free trade of goods/services.
2019: Zelensky elected president
2021 - January: Zelensky appeals to Biden to allow Ukraine to join NATO
2021- Spring: Russia masses troops near Ukrainian borders
Troops amassed near Ukraine for “training” purposes.
2021 - November: Satellite images show buildup of Russian forces near Ukraine
2021 - December 17 : Russia demands NATO pulls troops/weapons and keeps Ukraine from joining
2022 - January 24: NATO instills standby forces
2022 - January 26: Washington responds to Russia
2022 - February: Fear of Russian attack on Ukraine pushes US to send troops to Poland and Romania
Washington refuses to send troops to Ukraine but sends troops to Poland and Romania in fear of the economic sanctions to follow if Russia takes military action.
2022 - February 24: Russia begins missile and artillery attacks on Ukraine, striking kyiv and other major cities
"Last time our capital experienced anything like this was in 1941 when it was attacked by Nazi Germany” —Dmytro Kuleba
Works Cited
Person, Silvia Alosi, and Frank Jack Daniel, eds. “Timeline: The Events Leading up to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine.” Reuters. Thomson Reuters, March 1, 2022. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/events-leading-up-russias-invasion-ukraine-2022-02-28/.
“Un Accuses Russia of Violating Human Rights in Crimea.” BBC News. BBC, September 25, 2017. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41386490.
Macaya, Melissa, Rob Picheta, Ed Upright, and Maureen Chowdhury. “February 24, 2022 Russia-Ukraine News.” CNN. Cable News Network, February 25, 2022. https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-24-22-intl/index.html.
President Putin and his Politics
Vladimir Putin is constantly referred to in tandem in the news with global affairs situations. Once an entry-level governmental officer, Putin is now one of the most influential people and head of one of the most powerful nations. With this title comes the ability to dominate the region and the international community. How has one man consolidated so much power and maintained such a tight grasp on Russia’s global authority?
In a JSTOR research study titled “Restoration and Revolution in Russian Foreign Policy,” author Angela Stent writes, “[Under Putin,] Russian foreign policy has experienced a revival that contains elements of both restoration and revolution” (Stent 2008, 1). Putin has used these ideas as a foundation for expansive policies while keeping the Russian best interest as a priority. Putin has made his intentions abundantly clear through numerous policies and diplomatic efforts. As written in the article “Putin’s Foreign Policy: The Quest to Restore Russia’s Rightful Place,” author Fyodor Lukanov depicts how, during the 2016 Syrian conflict, a joint press release from Moscow and Washington stated a “cessation of hostilities” - all world powers would stand down (Fyodor 2016, 30). This came after a series of invasive Russian policies and required assistance from the United States, demonstrating Putin’s little interest in resolving conflict without a revolutionary lens.
“The task of the government is not only to pour honey into a cup but sometimes to give bitter medicine,” said Putin famously ("Business Insider" 2018). Immediately after coming into power, he shifted control over the 89 regions and republics, making them into seven federal districts. Along with this, his governmental policies instantly began to consolidate power centrally. As written in a news article from The Current Digest of the Soviet Press, the piece “Is There a ‘Putin Doctrine’ In Foreign Policy?” outlines Putin’s political motives. The author describes how there are “two main elements 1) in its relations with other countries, Russia puts its interests first; and 2) where security issues are concerned, Russia attaches paramount importance to new, nontraditional threats to its security.” Putin’s notion of rebuilding consists of establishing Russia as the power it once was and is destined to be, prioritizing internal interests over global. The author later describes Putin’s “exchanging [of] the symbols of a nuclear superpower for more tangible economic benefits” - as nuclear assertion is imperative in being respected throughout the international community. In his 2004 election speech, Putin boasts “rally around the flag” mantras convincing the Russian people of the nation’s inherent and rightful international superiority. He says, “We must grow faster than the rest of the world if we want to take the lead within today’s complex rules of global competition,” and “our efforts to strengthen our state are sometimes deliberately interpreted as authoritarianism”("The Current Digest" 2002, 1). He focuses on Russia's inherent obligation to enhance the world rather than its impact globally - Russia is the most critical problem, and other countries cannot get in the way of its development and prosperity.
Building on these statements, the “Putin Doctrine” piece describes “the more realistic goal is helping [Russians] to stop living in a dream world and focus on what we need to preserve, namely, Russia’s status as a great power on a par with China, Great Britain and France” (("The Current Digest" 2002, 2). This foundational thinking reasserted Russian forceful influence.
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have risen since Putin took office. Most notable was his decision to annex Crimea in 2014, forcibly “liberating” its inhabitants from Ukrainian rule. This instantaneously caused high tensions between the two. Early on, Putin established his insistence that Ukraine’s ruling administration was “unconstitutional,” according to Alexander Motyl in his 2014 piece “Putin’s Zugzwang: The Russia-Ukraine Standoff,” (Motyl 2014, 2). Building on this friction, Putin wrote an article in 2021 titled “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians, ” in which he states, “The incorporation of the western Russian lands into the single state was not merely the result of political and diplomatic decisions. It was underlain by the common faith, shared cultural traditions, and – I would like to emphasize it once again – language similarity.” Putin attributes geographical strife to a diplomatic disagreement rather than part of a larger agenda in which Russia continues to assert its global control.
Putin began planning for the invasion as early as 2021, in which Russia began to order troops along the Ukrainian border. There had been building military and political tension, which alarmed western allies about the potential threat of an imminent attack. According to an article published by AP News, Ukrainian President Zelensky claimed the government had prior knowledge of “subversive groups” making headway towards the nation, and United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken described how there was a high possibility Kyiv “could well be under siege” around the time of the initial invasion ("AP News," 1). As written by Britannica, western analysts estimated around 190,000 troops were circling the Ukrainian border near the time of the attack ("Britannica," 1)
All of this building international pressure reached its peak in February of 2022. Putin used his global authority as a stage to assert dominance over the region. Russian troops invaded numerous cities, destroying millions of homes and killing thousands of citizens. Ukraine has fought back, and there have been casualties on both sides. Putin continues consolidating his power while utilizing the continuous threat of advancement to instill fear into the global community. The invasion, the most prominent European ground war since World War II, has had a multitude of effects internationally - from political strife, a significant refugee crisis, a media war, and more.
Zelensky and Putin's Relationship
Vladamir Putin is the president of Russia and former prime minister. Volodymyr Zelensky is the president of Ukraine and a former actor. Putin has an extensive political background, while Zelensky is relatively new to the political atmosphere, yet these two countries are at war. Vladimir Putin is a well-known person, as he climbed in the Russian political rankings. On the flip side, many Ukrainians had doubts about Zelensky at the very beginning of his presidency. What has changed?
Volodymyr Zelensky was born on January 25, 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. In 2000, he graduated from Kyiv National Economic University with a degree in Law. During his time at University, he became very active in theater, as this became his primary focus. Years later, he was a comedian on a stand-up comedy show called Kvartal 95. His channel became very popular and often discussed political events occurring in Ukraine. He stayed in the TV industry until 2018 when his co-founded TV channel registered as a political party. This shift allowed Zelensky to open his interest in someday becoming president. On March 31, 2019, he won the popular vote by over 30% in the first round of the presidential election. He was elected president on April 19, 2019. He vowed that he would make peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin was born on October 7, 1952, in current-day St. Petersburg, Russia. (Previously known as Leningrad, Russia, U.S.S.R) Similar to Zelensky, Putin also studied law in University, at Leningrad State University. He served as a foreign intelligence officer for the KGB for 15 years. After he retired in 1990, he returned to Leningrad State University to protect the university's external relations. Putin was elected Prime Minster in 1999 after he moved to Moscow in 1996. During those three years in Moscow, he was elected the director of the Federal Security Service and became very influential in this area. He also launched a military operation against secessionist rebels in Chechnya . This gave him a lot of popularity. Suddenly on December 31, 1999, former Russian president Boris Yeltsin announced his resignation and Vladamir Putin stepped up as president of Russia.
What's the relationship between Putin and Zelnsky?
According to the New York Times, the first time Putin and Zelensky met face to face was in late 2019 to discuss their border region. (Higgins, 2019) The overall meetings seemed to be a draw, however, a few years later Putin and Russia invaded Ukraine. In 2019 when Zelensky first became president, he promised to make peace with Russia. The relationship between Zelensky and Putin quickly became toxic, as Zelensky wanted to have more peaceful interactions with Russia and Putin. Some of the actions Zelensey took to attempt to make peace with Putin include withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the Russian frontline, shutting down pro-Russian TV stations, and pushing very hard for Ukraine to join NATO. (Dixon, 2022) It should be noted that Putin did not congratulate Zelensky on his new presidency. These instances did not help but harm the chances of Russia and Ukraine having peace. Putin was concerned with Ukraine joining NATO because it will form an alliance that could potentially send dangerous missiles to Ukraine. After these actions were taken, Zelensky and Putin started to have some tension.
As war approached between Ukraine and Russia, Zelensky made an announcement that he was still willing to make amends with Russia, but if not it could lead to a third world war. In April 2021, Russia sends 100,000 troops to the Ukrainian border for military training. Putin claimed later that month that those troops would be removed, however, thousands still remained. In November 2021, these troops were placed back on Ukrainian borders. “I’m ready for negotiations with him. I was ready for the last two years. And I think that without negotiations we cannot end this war.” (Cole, 2022) He also says “I think that we have to use any format, any chance in order to have a possibility of negotiating, the possibility of talking to Putin. But if these attempts fail, that would mean that this is a third World War,” (Cole, 2022) Zelensky said this during a press conference just a month after Russia invaded Ukraine. Putin and Zelensky are still at ends because Russia and Ukraine are still at war, and have been since February 2022.
The Ukrainian Refugee Crisis
“At what point… did a European refugee problem begin to be perceived as a global predicament?” (Siegelberg 2010, 282) This question comes from a refugee analysis of 1919-1954, a significant peak in European adjustment and political action. Although this piece analyzes crises from over a century ago, the theme still prevails regarding the Ukrainian refugee crisis stemming from the Russian invasion in February of 2022. While the invasion of Ukraine has had irreparable damage to Russia and Ukraine financially, physically, and politically, the harsh measures have created a series of effects, most notably the spiraling effects of the refugee crisis.
European refugees date back centuries. In 1951, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) hosted the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, in which provisions established the rights and standing of refugees seeking asylum in a foreign nation. The “Convention and Protocol” document states, “Convention provisions, for example, are to be applied without discrimination as to race, religion or country of origin. Developments in international human rights law also reinforce the principle that the Convention be applied without discrimination as to sex, age, disability, sexuality, or other prohibited grounds of discrimination. The Convention further stipulates that, subject to specific exceptions, refugees should not be penalized for their illegal entry or stay. This recognizes that the seeking of asylum can require refugees to breach immigration rules” (UNHRC, 3). As written in the internationally agreed upon guidelines among the United Nations, refugees should not be discriminated against.
Per the document “The International Protection of Refugees” by Paul Weiss, Office of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, “refugees are often destitute; they live in difficult material and psychological conditions; they are open to that suspicion which is often the fate of the poor” (Weiss, 1). The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a mass refugee crisis and Ukrainian diaspora, many of which fleeing with a series of conditions - psychological, physical, etc.
Time magazine describes how around 7.8 million Ukrainians have left their native country, and the majority, according to the New York Times, have fled to Europe. Since, Europe has taken in over 4.8 million Ukrainain refugees, excluding the 365,000 individuals fleeing from nations such as Afghanistan and Syria. The European Union has granted Ukrainians automatic visas and refuge, meaning the 27 members states “agreed upon a Temporary Protective Directive that guarantees visa-free housing, healthcare, and access to the job market to Ukrainians for one year” (Time, 1). However, due to the sheer number of refugees there is little to no space, supplies, and housing for the millions of asylum seekers yearning for a new home, and is beginning to take a toll on European nations.
The invasion of Ukraine has had a never-ending list of effects globally, even as local as American gas and oil prices. The refugee crisis has caused a series of new challenges. As described in the aforementioned Time article, Ireland is facing acute housing shortages. This past September, 12 member states announced they were at full capacity for refugees, which when added together totals to about 1 million people. Since then, Austria has begun implementing more restrictive measures due to heavy loss of public transportation funding. Poland also enforced a fee Ukrainians staying past 120 days (Time, 1).
Specifically in Europe, due to the numerous situations in which mass refugee crises arise, various agencies and organizations were founded to alleviate these problems. These include but are not limited to the UNHRC, RAICES, International Rescue Committee, and more. While there is no single answer to resolve these challenges, there is only so much funding and the length at which fundraising efforts can immediately enact change.
Works Cited
Abend, Lisa. 2022. “As Winter Descends, Europe Cools on Ukrainian Refugees.” TIME. https://time.com/6234536/ukrainian-refugees-russia-ireland-poland/.
Adams, Walter. “Refugees in Europe.” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 203 (1939): 37–44. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1021883 .
“Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.” n.d. UNHCR. Accessed December 1, 2022. https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/3b66c2aa10.
“Europe.” n.d. UNHCR. Accessed December 1, 2022. https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/europe.html.
Pronczuk, Monika. 2022. “In Europe, New Refugee Crisis Stirs Uncomfortable Questions.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/03/world/europe/refugee-crisis.html .
Shacknove, Andrew E. “Who Is a Refugee?” Ethics 95, no. 2 (1985): 274–84. Weiss, Paul. “The International Protection of Refugees.” The American Journal of International Law 48, no. 2 (1954): 193–221. https://doi.org/10.2307/2194371.
Siegelberg, Mira L. “THE FORTY YEARS’ CRISIS: REFUGEES IN EUROPE 1919-1959, Birkbeck College, University of London, 14-16 September 2010.” History Workshop Journal, no. 71 (2011): 279–83. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41306826.
“Situation Ukraine Refugee Situation.” n.d. UNHCR data portal. Accessed December 1, 2022. https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine.
“Ukraine Population 1950-2022 | MacroTrends.” n.d. Macrotrends. Accessed December 1, 2022. https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/UKR/ukraine/population.
NATO
How does NATO play a role in this war?
One of Putin’s main justifications for this war is protecting Russia from the threat of NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. When Ukraine submitted their formal application to join NATO, Putin’s response was an invasion of country claiming NATO is a “war machine.” In his speech on Feburary 24, 2022, Putin says, “I am referring to the expansion of NATO to the east, moving its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders. It is well known that for 30 years we have persistently and patiently tried to reach an agreement with the leading NATO countries on the principles of equal and inviolable security in Europe. In response to our proposals, we constantly faced either cynical deception and lies, or attempts to pressure and blackmail, while NATO, despite all our protests and concerns, continued to steadily expand. The war machine is moving and, I repeat, it is coming close to our borders.”
The fear Putin has of NATO stems from the the fall of the USSR. He claims, NATO acted in ways that “only benefitted themselves” and failed to “account for changes in the state of affairs professionally, smoothly, and patiently.” Putin sees NATO as “anti-russia” and an “instrument of US foreign policy.” Ukriane joining NATO would, as Putin sees it, threaten Russia’s soverginty, as NATO has crossed into their Boarders.
What threat does NATO pose to Russia?
In Article Five of NATO’s constitution, it is written that an attack on one state would be an attack on all states. This means that if Russia were to invade a NATO memeber, the other NATO members would provide aide and troops, esentially creating one big force. Putin sees this as a large threat to Russia because many scholars claim, he aspires to revive the union of former Soviet republic, which includes Ukraine. If Ukraine were to join NATO, the attack agaisnt Ukraine would turn into a World War involving every member of NATO agasint the invader, Russia.
Will Ukraine join NATO?
While Ukraine did apply for membership into NATO, it does not seem to be a quick admission. In order to become a member, the country must meet certain criteria like a commitment to democracy as well as unanimous consent from all of NATO’s 30 members. The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stahlberger as well as past Secretaries General warn that this will take time and not be a quick process. However Stahlberger states, “NATOS first priority is on providing support to Ukraine to enable them to make more gains on the battlefield.”
END NOTES
1 Al Jazeera Staff, “'No Other Option': Excerpts of Putin's Speech Declaring War,” Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera (Al Jazeera, February 24, 2022), https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/24/putins-speech-declaring-war-on-ukraine-translated-excerpts
2 Ibid.
3 Nato, “The North Atlantic Treaty,” NATO, February 6, 2019, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17120.htm.
4 Ansar, Arif. "Ukraine, NATO, and Russia-China Strategic Alliance." Defence Journal 24, no. 9 (04, 2022): 55. https://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/ukraine-nato-russia-china-strategic-alliance/docview/2657141633/se-2.
5 Nato, “Interview with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg by Deutsche Welle Journalist Sarah Kelly at the Koerber Stiftung's Annual Berlin Foreign Policy Forum,” NATO, accessed November 30, 2022, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_208041.htm?selectedLocale=en.
Bibliography
Ansar, Arif. "Ukraine, NATO, and Russia-China Strategic Alliance." Defence Journal 24, no. 9 (04, 2022): 55. https://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/ukraine-nato-russia-china-strategic-alliance/docview/2657141633/se-2.
Kramer, Andrew E., and Dan Bilefsky. “Ukraine Submits an Application to Join NATO, with Big Hurdles Ahead.” The New York Times. The New York Times, September 30, 2022.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/30/world/europe/ukraine-nato-zelensky.html.
Nato. “Interview with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg by Deutsche Welle Journalist
Sarah Kelly at the Koerber Stiftung's Annual Berlin Foreign Policy Forum.” NATO. Accessed November 30, 2022. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_208041.htm?selectedLocale=en.
Nato. “The North Atlantic Treaty.” NATO, February 6, 2019. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17120.htm.
News, VOA. “NATO Chief: Ukraine Will One Day Join Western Military Alliance.” VOA. Voice of America (VOA News), November 29, 2022. https://www.voanews.com/a/nato-chief-ukraine-will-one-day-join-western-military-alliance-/6855299.html.
Pasquier, Andrew. “Identity Theft? an Exploration of Ukrainian National Identity in the Conflict with Russia.” COLUMBIA POLITICAL REVIEW. COLUMBIA POLITICAL REVIEW, November 4, 2016. http://www.cpreview.org/blog/2015/05/identity-theft.
Staff, Al Jazeera. “'No Other Option': Excerpts of Putin's Speech Declaring War.” Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera, February 24, 2022. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/24/putins-speech-declaring-war-on-ukraine-translated-excerpts.
Media Impact and Reception
Social media plays a large role in every aspect of life and warfare is no exception. Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has not strayed away from using social media to bring awareness to what is happening in the Russia-Ukraine war. With his ability to speak English he is able to reach millions with his pleas to pay attention to the war. For example, Zelensky spoke (virtually) at the 2022 Grammys with an audience of over 8 million Americans. When speaking to a crowd of that magnitude Zelensky has a huge influence, especially to a crowd of wealthy, influential people who have the ability to help. In this video Zelensky states, “What is more opposite to music? The silence of ruined cities and killed people.” The video goes on to explain how Ukranian children are being robbed of their childhood and how as of April 2022, 153 children had passed away due to the war. Since he was speaking at the grammys he mentioned how musicians are no longer just making music, but aiding patients in the hospital by singing to them. This speech was monumental and Zelensky has a way to speak poetically without detracting from the seriousness of the war. By speaking at the Grammys, he promoted widespread information. Another important way in which Zelensky spreads information is through his Instagram and Twitter accounts.
Another important way in which Zelensky spreads information is through his Instagram and Twitter accounts. On Instagram he has a following of 16.8 million and on Twitter he has a 6.9 Million. As a former comedian, Zelensky has a way with words and is able to keep his followers engaged throughout the events of the war. For example, one of his most famous tweets read, “To the world: what is the point of saying never again for 80 years, if the world stays silent when a bomb drops on the same site of Babyn Yar? At least 5 killed. History repeating…”-March 1st, 2022. Zelensky is holding Russia accountable for their atrocious actions. Babyn Yar is a ravine in Kiev, Ukraine. This was once a site of massacre for Nazis during World War II, where they would continually murder Jews between 1941-1943. When a Russian missile struck near Babyn Yar killing 5 people, Zelensky asked the world if anything had really changed. That evil is still apparent and the world needs to know that the ravine is again a place of mass destruction. This tweet is a sentiment to the world that Ukraine is under attack and people need to pay attention to what the Russians are doing. History is really repeating itself in this case and as he points out, the world is staying silent like most did during the Holocaust. There is an undertone of disappointment and anger in this tweet that will go out to millions of people. By publishing this commentary on Twitter, Zelensky is bound to reach a large audience that will hopefully create awareness and allyship. Social media is a relatively new way of communicating information, but Zelensky is taking full advantage of it. Another very important part of using social media to communicate such important information is how it will reach a younger audience who may not be familiar with televised news services. By using Twitter, something that has become a custom in young people's lives, Zelensky is able to reach a broader audience than he would have just making TV appearances
Another prominent tweet that came from Zelensky reads, “Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself & won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks” - February 24, 2022. Zelensky is clearly letting Putin know that no matter the extent of violence Russia perpetrates towards Ukraine, they as a nation will not give up. Zelensky is not scared of Putin, or at least isn’t letting Putin believe he is. Freedom is essential to Zelensky and Ukraine and they will not forget that value. No matter what is thrown at them throughout the war, they know they deserve their land and freedom and will not give it up.
Lastly, Zelensky posted a video on Instagram proving that he is not fleeing Ukraine for protection. He is a leader that is unafraid and provides a strong example of strength and resilience for the Ukrainian citizens. No matter his status as president he understands that he is just as important on the scene as off it. In this video, he shows himself alongside other high ranking Ukrainian officials in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, explaining how he has not and will not flee. He says that soldiers, citizens, and the government are there protecting their independence. This video was a smart way to show Ukrainian civilians and the world that he is not a leader who will stand back and watch as mass destruction occurs, but that he will fight to protect his people. Zelensky has made the deliberate decision to utilize social media as a way to bring comfort and attention to Ukrainian civilians while educating the outside world and holding Putin accountable.
Works Cited
Zelensky, Volodymyr, [@ZelenskyyUa]. “To the world: what is the point of saying never again for 80 years, if the world stays silent when a bomb drops on the same site of Babyn yar? At least 5 killed. History repeating…”Twitter, 1 March 2022 https://twitter.com/zelenskyyua/status/1498697538085568514
Zelensky, Volodymyr, [@ZelenskyyUa]. “...Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself & won’t give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks…”Twitter, 24 February 2022 https://twitter.com/zelenskyyua/status/1496787304811315202
Zelensky In Kyiv. Instagram. Accessed November 30, 2022. https://www.instagram.com/tv/CaajalmAlZ2/?hl=en .
“Babi Yar.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed November 30, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/place/Babi-Yar-massacre-site-Ukraine.
“On the Anniversary of the Massacre at Babyn Yar: Joint Statement from Special Envoys for Holocaust Issues Condemning Russian Actions in Ukraine.” https://www.state.gov/on-the-anniversary-of-the-massacre-at-babyn-yar-joint-statement-from-special-envoys-for-holocaust-issues-condemning-russian-actions-in-ukraine/.
Effects on Ukrainians and Russians
One of the most tragic aspects of any war is the innocent victims whose lives are perishing at the hands of corrupt nations that have no limitations on harm. As a group, we knew that we had to dedicate some portion of our project and research to how everyday Ukrainians and Russians are being affected by the war and their differing opinions on the matter. It is easy to believe that Russians are pro-Putin propaganda as they have had to learn to live under his regime, but that is not a fair assumption. Both everyday Ukrainians and everyday Russians are seeing their lives change tremendously due to this war. Just because one is from a nation that acts corrupt, that does not mean that their feelings will align with what their leaders are doing. For example, Insider News conducted interviews with Russians who had escaped Russia about their feelings towards the war and there was an overwhelming feeling of shame coming from the interviewees. Those who were being interviewed spoke of the urgency of crossing borders out of Russia to stand against the war and live in places they feel are safer for them at this time. Fedor, a Russian Engineer says, “Please don't associate us Russians with this war. We never wanted it and we never voted for this government. I feel ashamed.” There are many important things to pull out of this quote. For example, Fedor is speaking for many Russians when pleads for the world to not associate the harm done in this war with everyday Russian people. This is something everyone can consider. The blame is not on the people of Russia who are there solely to live their lives, but rather the blame is on Putin and the government he has created. There is a clear sense of remorse in his voice, even though his actions were not those which created or enforced the war. There was another very interesting interview in this video of an unnamed woman who speaks about leaving Russia because she was unable to protest the war there. She says, “I left because it’s impossible to speak out. It’s very scary to go to rallies in Russia.” Again, this quote is very significant as it proves that there is little to no room in Russia for differing opinions on the war and if one were to speak up in defense of Ukraine they could be arrested for up to 15 years. Russia has recently adopted censorship laws that are put in place to ensure Russians don’t speak out against the government and the war. Russia has arrested even the most peaceful of protesters so there is no room for debate around the war hence why people are fleeing to other places, but now Russia is making it deliberately harder to leave.
Another primary source that is extremely important in understanding the experience of everyday Russians is the experience of Pavel Filatyev. Filatyev was the first Russian troop to go public about his experience during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. By doing this interview with CNN, he is risking his life and safety because as we know, speaking against Putin and the army can have serious consequences. In this interview, he describes how innocent lives were being taken at the hands of armies and there was no liberation of Ukrainian people, but rather senseless death demanded by Putin. There is a question about if he should be held accountable for his actions, and this is an interesting moral debate. Where does one draw the line between order and recklessness of soldiers? He was able to escape combat, but he surely feels guilty about his actions while still fighting for Russia. This again signifies Putin's control over the Russian people.
Another clear-cut example of how speaking up against Russia can affect you is the story of Alexei Navalny. Alexei Navalny is an opposition leader and anti-corruption activist in Russia. He is the most prominent face when it comes to opposing Putin and has made a name for himself in Russia. So, when the war started he was sure to explain the moral injustices of the situation. Navalny was almost killed in August 2020 when poisoned by Novichok which is a lethal nerve agent. Navalny has a target on his back and Putin fears the power that he has hence why he is in jail serving a very long sentence in a maximum security prison due to producing a documentary about the corruption within the Russian government. In an interview with his daughter, she explains the conditions that he is living under in the prison enduring psychological torture and little to no social interaction. She goes on to make the very important point that outsiders should not associate Russia with Putin because Putin is not Russia and vice versa. In an op-ed written by Navalny for the Washington Post (while he is serving his 9-year sentence in jail), he says, “the bottom line remains: Russia (Putin) must not win this war. Ukraine must remain an independent democratic state capable of defending itself.” He goes on to emphasize that this war is caused by Putin and his government and their obsession with taking over control of Ukraine.
Works Cited
People Inside Russia Speak About The Ukraine War. YouTube. YouTube, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4mqMmWnEVA.
“Russian Paratrooper Speaks out against War in Ukraine in CNN Interview - CNN Video.” CNN. Cable News Network, August 23, 2022. https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/08/22/russian-paratrooper-ukraine-war-chance-putin-dnt-ebof-vpx.cnn.
Daughter of Russian Opposition Leader Alexey Navalny Speaks Out. YouTube. YouTube, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP-GKmS6L9I.
Navalny, Alexei. “Opinion | Alexei Navalny: This Is What a Post-Putin Russia Should Look Like.” The Washington Post. WP Company, September 30, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/09/30/alexei-navalny-parliamentary-republic-russia-ukraine/.
“What Can Get You in Trouble for Anti-War Speech in Russia?” HRW. Accessed December 1, 2022. https://www.hrw.org/video-photos/interactive/2022/08/22/what-can-get-you-trouble-anti-war-speech-russia.
Editors, Biography.com. “Alexei Navalny.” Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, April 4, 2022. https://www.biography.com/activist/alexei-navalny.
Shuster, Simon. “Alexei Navalny Speaks from Prison: An Exclusive Interview.” Time. Time, January 19, 2022. https://time.com/6140102/alexei-navalny-russia-profile/.
“Alexei Navalny: Russia's Jailed Vociferous Putin Critic.” BBC News. BBC, October 7, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-16057045.
Global Effects
The Economy
The COVID-19 pandemic hit, leaving the world in desperate need of recovery. As the pandemic began to ease up, there was new hope that the economy would return to normal. However, a new problem arose – the Russian Ukrainian war. Now the hopes held for economic recovery are further out of sight.
Although many countries are experiencing issues as a result of the war, Europe seems to be taking most of the impact. The Europe and Central Asia region, according to the World Bank’s Economic Update, predicts that the economic activity in that region will remain depressed with very minimal growth of 0.3%. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the economy may contract by 35% after the damage to agricultural land, destruction of productive capacity, as well as reduced labor supply. Recovery and reconstruction needed is predicted to be at least $349 billion. (1.5x+ times more the size of its pre-war economy).
As a result of the war, there have been trade disruptions, food and fuel price shocks, and many other factors contributing to high inflation around the world. Economic activity in Europe & central Asia has deteriorated. After the Russian invasion., oil, gas and coal prices skyrocketed just like other necessities did.
Allies
Allies play a big role when it comes to warfare. Without allies, you don’t stand a chance at winning a war. Russia’s previous allies included Iran, India, China, and Belarus.. Once Russia attacked Ukraine, its allies changed. India wanted the conflict to come to an end and therefore is not supporting anyone. China refuses to join the war, however they will still keep the same contact with Russia that they once had. While Russia has been losing allies, they gained the support of Saudi Arabia, specifically Ridyah, who has been supplying Russia with enough oil so they can stay strong during the cold winter. Iran has remained loyal and sent kamikaze drones that were used to attack Ukrainian cities and Tehran delivered drones, missiles and other weaponry. Iran has been the biggest supplier to their military power. Belarus continues to support Russia, however, they are ready to fight if necessary. The leader, Alexander Lukashenko, warns, “If such stupid and mindless steps are taken by our rivals and opponents, we will deploy not only nuclear weapons, but super-nuclear and up-and-coming ones to protect our territory.” Even though they are allied with Russia, Belarus is not going to let this war destroy their territory.
Ukraine appears to have more allies than Russia, which has kept them strong. Ukraine has received help from many countries. NATO has been a great contributor as they are delivering non lethal aid, weapons, ammunition and other military equipment. From the UK, Ukraine is getting artillery support, meanwhile from Germany, they are receiving financial support so they can purchase anti-tank weapons and ammunition from German arm manufacturers. Other countries are further providing military support to Ukraine in order to keep them strong.
International Relationships / Reactions
In response to the war, Saudi Arabia teams up with Russia. Because of this, Biden has to “re-evaluate” the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia to ensure that it serves national security needs. Many believe that the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia should be frozen in all aspects because we should not be supporting and associating with someone who is supporting violence.
Although Russia has gained allies from the war, they also are losing more respect as the war continues. Russia has damaged their relationship with many countries, maybe even beyond repair. Respect wasn’t all that was lost. They lied so many times that they have lost their trust from other countries. The consequences following the war not only affected Russia, but affected the whole world. They have weakened and threatened the economies of other countries as well as themselves and still have failed to even defeat Kyiv. Not only that, they haven't been able to keep some of their territorial gains they have made, which further ruins their reputation of high military success and affects their relationships with other countries. Ever since the Crimean Crisis in 2014, the relationship between the EU and Russia has shifted. The EU had to issue sanctions against Russia following the crisis. Then in 2016, the union restated that Russia was expected to respect international laws and principles, in order to keep the relationship from deteriorating. However, when Russia attacked Ukraine, Russia threatened peace and stability all across Europe. Russia attacking Ukraine caused the EU to have no choice but to sever economic ties in order to gain a little more stability.
Works Cited
“Russian Invasion of Ukraine Impedes Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery in Emerging Europe and Central Asia.” World Bank. World Bank Group, October 4, 2022. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/10/04/russian-invasion-of-ukraine-impedes-post-pandemic-economic-recovery-in-emerging-europe-and-central-asia.
Wiseman, Paul, and David McHugh. “Russia's War at 6 Months: A Global Economy in Growing Danger.” AP NEWS. Associated Press, August 21, 2022. https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-inflation-covid-health-2f23aa3df0f2f6916ad458785dd52c59
Kammer, Alfred, Jihad Azour, and Abebe Aemro Selassie. “How War in Ukraine Is Reverberating across World's Regions.” IMF. https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2022/03/15/blog-how-war-in-ukraine-is-reverberating-across-worlds-regions-031522.
“Who Are Russia's Allies in the Ukraine War?” The Week UK. The Week, October 26, 2022. https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/world-news/russia/955863/who-are-russia-allies-ukraine-crisis.
Gilbert, Asha C. “Who Are Russia's Allies in the Ukraine Conflict and What Is Their Stance?” USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, February 24, 2022. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/02/24/vladimir-putin-russia-allies-ukraine/6921212001/.
“Ukraine War: Kyiv's Allies Pledge More Weapons to Help Win War.” BBC News. BBC, April 20, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61155035.
Knispel, Sandra. “How to End the War in Ukraine.” News Center, October 5, 2022. https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/how-to-end-the-ukraine-war-514522/.
Nato. “NATO's Response to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine.” NATO, October 18, 2022. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_192648.htm.
Baker, Peter. 2022. "Biden to Reevaluate Relationship with Saudi Arabia After Oil Production Cut." New York Times, Oct 11. https://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/biden-reevaluate-relationship-with-saudi-arabia/docview/2723587432/se-2.
Meister, Stefan. “A Paradigm Shift: EU-Russia Relations after the War in Ukraine.” Carnegie Europe, November 29, 2022. https://carnegieeurope.eu/2022/11/29/paradigm-shift-eu-russia-relations-after-war-in-ukraine-pub-88476.
Baker, Peter. 2022. "Biden to Reevaluate Relationship with Saudi Arabia After Oil Production Cut." New York Times, Oct 11. https://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/biden-reevaluate-relationship-with-saudi-arabia/docview/2723587432/se-2.
Dixon, Robyn. “Setbacks in Ukraine War Diminish Russia's Clout with Regional Allies.” The Washington Post. WP Company, November 30, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/30/russia-kazakhstan-regional-neighbors-ukraine/.