Vladimir Putin the Russian Prime Minister, has launched a “military operation” in Ukraine with its military attacking from the east, north, and south. Soon after the announcement, the explosions were reported across Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, in the region of Donetsk and Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.
The Prime Minister of Russia claims that he wanted “demilitarization”, and therefore called on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms.
Furthermore, he stated in the special address that, “People’s republic of Donbass approached Russia with a request to help. In the connection therewith, I made the decision to hold a special military operation.”
US president Joe Biden responded, “President Putin has chosen a premediated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.”
Furthermore, United Nations Secretary-General said, “I must change my address and say: In the name of humanity bring your troops backs to Russia. In the name of humanity to not start what may be the most devastating war since the start of the century.”
The unfolding of the events
The tensions between the Russian Federation and Ukraine are not new, as we have seen the invasion of 2014 by Russia, therefore what led to the current situation of crisis.
This can be traced to early 2021, when the Ukrainian President made the request for Ukraine to join NATO. This enraged Russia, leading to the deployment of more and more troops near the Ukraine border for “training exercises.”
Over time, this drill escalated, as a result of which the US began to question the increasing deployment of Russian troops near the border of Ukraine, by mid-December.
Luhansk and Donetsk
Luhansk and Donetsk are the states located in eastern region of Ukraine which shares border with Russia. These two pro-Russian regions or the rebelled regions have declared independence from Ukraine in 2014, but no country, until last Monday had recognized the republics as sovereign states.
Russia has mentioned that its troops have not yet been deployed but will be ‘peacekeeping’ in the region. This ‘peacekeeping’ is questioned by a few nations state in the last UN meeting, like US.
United Nations Secretary General- Antonio Guterres has condemned Russia for recognizing the independence of the two states of easter Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk. As the violation of ceasefire has increased at the contact line, there is “the real risk of further escalation on the ground.”
The decision of Russian Federation to recognize the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk is a clear violation of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine as well as UN Charter.
“The principle of the UN Charter is not an a-la-carte menu; they cannot be applied selectively,” the Secretary-General told the reporter.
He called for “an immediate ceasefire and re-establishment of the rule of the law” at this moment of peril.
Recent updates
- Ukraine claims over 40 Ukraine soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed by the Russian shelling.
- The United Kingdom, European Union and various other western allies have vowed to put strict sanctions on Russia following the “special military operation.”