debunking myths and giving facts and opinions

Delaney Holman 

As most people know, Russia recently invaded Ukraine on Feb 24, 2022, which heightened tensions between the two, and ultimately has lead to a state of war. A lot of people do not understand why, including me at first. There was not much of an explanation given as to why the war was declared, and I have even seen it described as “unprovoked.” 

It is important for everyone to understand and be educated on this conflict because it is a clear example of an abuse of power with civilian lives on the line. 

Why did Russia invade Ukraine and declare war? Is this the start of world war 3? Let’s get into it. 

How the USSR formed

1922-1991

To have this conversation, readers must understand the relationship and background between Russia and Ukraine. 

After defeating the Romanov monarchy in the Russian Revolution of 1917, a civil war ensued, and after many battles, a treaty was made in 1922 that formed the United Socialist Soviet Republic (USSR), also known as the Soviet Union, which would eventually contain 15 European republics, including Ukraine and Russia. This government would then be taken control of by the newly built communist party.

The collapse of the USSR

1991

The spread of communism throughout Europe and approaching other countries ultimately lead to the creation of (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) NATO. To initially protect against communist states such as Russia and ultimately defend each other. 

Joseph Stalin was the first leader in 1924 after the death of Vladimir Lenin. Stalin’s extreme take on communism sent fear into citizens of the Soviet Union and sent an image of what communism looked like at the time across the globe.

During World War II, the Soviet Union allied together with the U.S. and other countries to take down the Axis powers, which ultimately led to the collapse of Nazi Germany and the end of WWII in 1945. 

After the war, many neighboring Eastern European countries that had been liberated from the Nazi regime had begun to take in communist control and governments. The spread of communism had shaken Americans and the British to their cores. 

The cold war ensued in 1947, a rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States, in which the U.S. aimed to stop the spread of communism and infringement on western democracies.

This terror lead to the creation of NATO in 1949 which initially included the Western Union, The United States, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. NATO was made as protection against the Soviet Union and as a disapproval of communism and its spread. 

It is very important to know what NATO is. NATO is an alliance that constitutes an arms of protection, a form of security for countries. If one member of NATO is attacked by an outside country, all members of NATO are to respond in defense. 

In response to NATO, the Soviet Union and other communist nations created the Warsaw Pact in 1955. 

During this conflict between NATO and the Warsaw Pact Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the USSR in 1985 and attempted to regain the USSR’s prosperity yet his actions were deemed to be too much change for the Soviet Union too quickly and did not achieve what was needed. Divides between wealthy communists and average citizens grew exponentially during the 1960s and 1970s, leaving average citizens facing starvation, death, and a lack of access to clothes, shoes, or just basic needs. 

The collapse of the USSR began after Gorbachev’s process of democratization started, which led to the destabilization of communist control, and ultimately the downfall and dissolution of the Soviet Union. 

Leaving previously USSR countries, states, and districts to their own devices, open to joining NATO. 

After the Soviet Union’s collapse   

On Dec. 8, 1991, Gorbachev signed an agreement with the leaders of Belarus and Ukraine that declared their independence from the USSR. Weeks later, the eight out of nine remaining republics in the USSR also declared their independence, continuing the collapse of the USSR, and the end of the cold war. 

So why does any of this matter? Why is Russia Invading Ukraine?

Well, now that you know the history, let’s get deeper into today’s current state.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Soviet nuclear weapons were distributed between the newly formed states, which included Russia and Ukraine. 

Later, in 1994, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for Russia to not attack Ukraine’s borders. 

This has become a problem for Ukraine and the rest of the world today.

Putin has called the collapse of the Soviet Union the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe in the 20th century,” and has also written that Russia and Ukraine are actually one country.

The conflict that we are seeing today stems from Putin believing Ukraine belongs to Russia and the way he views the collapse of the Soviet Union as being more detrimental to Europe than the actual Soviet Union. 

Putin still sees NATO as a threat, especially the U.S., but in May of 2002, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma announced interest in Ukraine joining NATO, and in 2017 Ukraine created a constitutional amendment, which pronounced Ukraine’s commitment to NATO membership.

Becoming a NATO member would break Ukraine away further from Russia’s sphere of influence, which Russia does not want, as it would see it as a direct threat.

The conflict began on Thursday, Feb. 24, when Russia pushed against Ukraine’s borders and ultimately invaded, declaring war with the goal of overrunning Ukraine’s government and stopping its move toward joining NATO. 

Russian propaganda

It has been seen in the past that Russia is very good at propaganda and turning its people against other nations, so other countries expected Russia to do this.

Putin has told his people his goal was to “demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine,” saying it was to help protect the Ukrainian people. Also telling the people of Russia, “The current events have nothing to do with a desire to infringe on the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people”

It is clear Putin is using that as propaganda when as of April 3, it had been reported that have been 3,455 civilian casualties in the country: 1,417 killed and 2,038 injured by the Russian invasion.

Putin also will not refer to this war as a war; he and his administration will only call it a “special military operation.” Russia’s internet censor board warned websites and journalists that referring to the military campaign as an “attack,” “war,” or “invasion” will lead to censorship. 

The Russian administration calls for this censorship to sway public opinion in the direction of Putin. They are using the term “special military operation” to justify the invasion. 

What can we do?

We as the United States can only help from a military standpoint through NATO. 

NATO is very clear about who they support and the limits of their support to nonmember countries. 

Since Ukraine is not a part of NATO yet, countries in NATO cannot become directly involved unless Russia attacks a NATO country.

Here’s what you can do as an individual to help support the Ukrainian war effort:

To give support to refugees

• Donate through the International Rescue Committee which helps send vital supplies to displaced children and families 
• Donating monthly to or just once through the UNHCR helps provide protection, shelter, and other forms of assistance to refugees.
• Doctors without borders take donations to provide medical care to people impacted by conflict and humanitarian crisis 

To support the Ukrainian military

• Army SOS helps donate to the Ukrainian army by funding defensive strategies and tools 

What now?

The two main concerns regarding the directions this war could go are troublesome:

Putin has been clearly distraught by the dissolution of the USSR and has called it the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe in the 20th century.” Nations that used to belong to the USSR are worried the real goal behind this invasion is to regain control of the soviet union.

This concern, if it were to be carried out, would cause catastrophic effects tonations like the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, who belonged to the soviet union, yet joined NATO in 2004 under the Bush administration. 

If Russia were to attack a NATO nation all NATO members would be called to defend, this could cause massive war, maybe even ensuing in world war. 

Global warnings would go underway, as this war would most likely lean into a nuclear war. 

For now, keep Ukrainian families in your thoughts, and don’t let the waves of social media bury this war with quick likes and funny tik toks meant to drive entertainment and engagement higher. This isn’t a social media war. This is a real war. Real people are losing their lives. Civilian lives.