How is the Russia-Ukraine War Affecting Ukraine?

 

In February of 2022, Vladimir Putin (the Russian president) said that he sees Ukraine and Russia as brother nations and, because Russia is the older brother, he believes it should get to be in charge. Most Ukrainians do not agree, so Putin sent an army to capture Ukraine, and implement a new president that he would control. Volodymyr Zelenskyy (the Ukrainian president) told Putin that Ukrainians want peace, but that if they need to, they will defend their country’s independence, and that’s what they’ve ended up needing to do. Ukraine needs to fight back to protect themselves and their independence. The war has escalated to a point where people must flee Ukraine, the country is being demolished, and children are no exception to the horrors of war.  

How are people trying to escape?

Many Ukrainians are escaping to Poland and it’s a key destination for many people hoping to escape the Russian military, with the border town of Medyka offering help to the people travelling by foot or bus. 

Polish official says that the country will open nine reception centres along its 535-kilometre-long border with Ukraine accepting an increased number of refugees in the incoming days. 

Vitalii Koval and Oleksandea Brechkoi are two of the many people seeking refuge from the ongoing war. Along with their five month old son, they are travelling to Poland to stay with friends. “We leave our dogs there because we were not in time to make them a passport or permission”, says Vitalii “We are thinking about what to do next and in the end probably going to Wroclaw to take a deep breath there and decide what to do” 

As well as cross the border on foot Ukrainians are using cars and trains to escape the ongoing conflict. Massive traffic jams were seen in Kyiv as the citizens attempts to escape the city. As many as 100,000 Ukrainians were displaced on the first day of the invasion by Russia and many more in the coming days.  

How is the war effecting the children?

Right now, 7.5 million children in Ukraine are in grave danger of physical harm, severe emotional distress, and displacement. There are approximately 468 million children who were living in the conflict zone. Air strikes and have damaged essential services like schools and hospitals. The children of Ukraine are paying an extraordinary price in lives lost and taken. They are continuing to be killed, wounded, and very traumatized by the violence that is currently happening. Some children have fled their homes to stay safe and to find somewhere to hide out. They have lost their educations, medical and health care, safe food, and drinking water. Children in Ukraine wake up screaming form nightmares, or from being dragged down by depression, feelings of hopelessness, and abuse. The trauma has not ceased to stop. The conflict continues. But what is happening to children in Russia? The conflict and fighting are happening in both Russia and Ukraine. Kids in Russia are also unsafe. Visit our other website pages to find out more.  

Schools have suffered many human losses; teachers, students and parents have paid an extremely high and had their lives taken away due to the actions of the Russian military. Hundreds of schools have been damaged and destroyed. Millions of children and thousands of Ukrainian teachers have been forced to relocate within the country or move abroad.

With over 5.1 million displaced internally, the fight in Ukraine continues with no end near. On the 24 of February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine escalating the ongoing dispute between the countries that began 9 years ago. Effects of the war span from food shortages to extensive environmental damage. Many are still trapped inside the country, without access to food, fresh water, or electricity. Effects of the war also span outside of the country, with some countries previously dependant on Ukrainian grain products left hungry because of Ukrainian suppliers being unable to export their grain products safely because of the war. This war is tearing apart countries, the future is bleak for them if this war continues.