"Spring in Kyiv," photo by Albert Lores. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has devastated the nation, leaving tens of thousands dead, wounded, homeless, and displaced.a
Warning: This article contains sensitive information regarding the loss of lives in an ongoing conflict. Additionally, casualties are near impossible to determine due to the fog of war and ongoing disinformation campaigns being run by both the Ukrainian and Russian governments; therefore, any statistics should be regarded as only estimates.
On a Thursday morning in late February, the world stood in shock as Russian forces began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In the following month, Ukrainian cities have been bombed, shelled, and obliterated. Over 1200 missiles have been launched by Russian forces, obliterating hundreds of schools, neighborhoods, hospitals, and businesses. In the southern city of Mariupol, formerly Ukraine’s 10th-largest, not a single building stands untouched by explosions.
4.1 million Ukrainian refugees have fled their homes, while another 6.5 million have been displaced and unable to leave Ukraine. Nato and U.S estimates say some 2 to 4 thousand Ukrainian soldiers have fallen in battle. At least 7 thousand civilians have lost their lives, including an estimated 135 children. At least 31 foreign civilians from 15 different countries have been killed, as well as 8 foreign combatants. Russian families have seen between 7 and 15 thousand of their brothers, fathers, and sons sent to their death for Putin’s pride, and some additional 30 thousand Russians have been wounded or are unaccounted for.
Although western countries have imposed significant sanctions on Russia and crippled its economy, none have directly sent supporting troops, and NATO refuses to issue a no-fly zone over the region.
During the course of the invasion, Russian forces have fired upon refugees, critically attacked nuclear power plants, shot at firefighters and medics, threatened non-participating countries with troop advancements, including violating Swedish airspace with nuclear-armed fighter jets, and targeted schools, hospitals, houses, and other civilian targets with missiles. As Ukrainian forces have pushed back the Russian forces northward through Kyiv and towards the Belarusian border this week, reporters have uncovered mass graves. Cities that just over a month ago were thriving areas of life, where people walked the streets talking, laughing, and living their lives, are now littered with debris, ash, and those people’s lifeless bodies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described it as a “genocide”, “The elimination of the whole nation, and the people.” He continued, “We are the citizens of Ukraine. We have more than 100 nationalities. This is about the destruction and extermination of all these nationalities.”
Unfortunately, Alaska being so far removed from the direct conflict makes it difficult to directly contribute to aid, especially as the war continues to drag onwards. There are many international organizations worth donating to for those who can, and you can donate directly to Ukraine at https://war.ukraine.ua/donate/, or find other ways to support at https://war.ukraine.ua/support-ukraine/.
There are also several ways to contribute and be local-oriented at the same time. Finnish-born, Palmer-based artist Jessica Thornton (instagram: @jessicathorntondesigns) raised $640 for the purchase of medical supplies in Ukraine through her “Peace, Freedom, Solidarity” apparel. Although the campaign has ended, you can still visit her online store at https://www.bonfire.com/store/jessica-thornton-designs/ , and sign up to be notified when the designs become available again.
Even closer to home, the University of Alaska Anchorage Society of Law and Justice has an ongoing fundraiser through April 30. Purchase sunflower ribbons to show your support, while all proceeds from the sale will go directly to UNICEF for Children to aid in Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis.
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