Looking Back at One Year of War

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February 24th

Looking Back at One Year of War

A Ukrainian soldier stands near an apartment ruined from Russian shelling in Borodyanka, Ukraine. Credit: AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky via Flickr

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On February 24th, 2022, one year ago today, Russian forces began their invasion of Ukraine. During those first few days, nobody knew what to expect. The world had not seen a war of this magnitude in Europe since WWII. Experts predicted that Kyiv would fall in a matter of days, leading the Kremlin to install a puppet government in Ukraine’s capital.

But none of that happened. Instead, Kyiv remained firmly in Ukrainian control and safe enough for leaders like U.S. President Joe Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to visit. As we covered in May, one prominent factor was that Ukraine completely revamped its military from 2014 to 2022. A democratic and devolved non-commissioned officer system replaced the top-down authority where only generals made decisions. However, more importantly, Ukraine figured out how to maximize its potential and efficiency.

While Ukraine’s military appears weaker numerically, it is much more efficient than Russia’s, which has numerous leadership, intelligence, and logistical issues. At first, Western leaders were reluctant to send aid to Ukraine because they believed it would likely lose within a few months. However, due to Ukraine’s ability to effectively repel Russian forces, Western countries have sent billions of dollars in financial aid to Ukraine to keep its economy and military running.

Despite some of the moments of hope in this conflict, it has come at an enormous cost. According to Reuters, at least 42,000 people have died, 14 million people have been displaced, and $350 billion in property damage has occurred. Moreover, while Ukraine remains sovereign, the war has led to uncertainty about the country’s future. A democracy as young as Ukraine’s will be tested as it undertakes a rebuilding process of monumental proportions.

In a world with a 24-hour news cycle, it can be easy to lose track of stories. Therefore, we sought to bring you the most relevant weekly news over the past year. From Banksy’s murals popping up around Ukraine to tank and jet deliveries, we strive to bring you dynamic information that gives you a fuller picture of what's happening across Ukraine.

As always, we appreciate your readership and sharing this newsletter with friends, neighbors & colleagues.

Best,
Phil & Gabe
Co-founders of Ukraine Unlocked

Ukraine Unlocked is a weekly newsletter providing a roundup of the cultural, political, and economic developments in the country. We hope to provide students, professionals, and the casual reader with greater insight into Ukraine as its role on the global stage evolves throughout the 21st century.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments you may have. We always look forward to engaging with our readers.

Our email address is:
contact@ukraineunlocked.com

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Looking Back at One Year of War

February 24th

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