JS Explains: The War in Ukraine

In late February, Russia invaded the neighboring country of Ukraine, launching attacks on military bases, hospitals, apartment buildings, and more. Since then, thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed or wounded, and more than 3 million Ukrainian citizens have been forced to flee to other countries. Meanwhile, many world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, are seeking to end the violence and prevent a larger conflict. 

Here’s what you need to know.

The Ukrainian military has been fighting to protect its citizens and territory against Russia. Though highly outnumbered, Ukrainian forces have surprised Russia by putting up a fierce defense of their homeland. Across the country, tens of thousands of civilian volunteers have also taken up weapons to try to stop the Russian assault. Many others have aided the war effort by making handheld explosive devices and building barricades in their communities to guard against attacks.

“We are fighting for our rights, for our freedom, for our lives,” Zelensky said in a speech in early March. “And now we are fighting for our survival.”

World leaders across the globe continue to speak out against the invasion. Some countries, including the U.S., are sending food, medical supplies, military equipment, and other assistance to Ukraine. 

The U.S. and its allies around the world, such as Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom, have also imposed severe economic sanctions against Russia. Sanctions are official actions meant to punish a country, often by restricting its economic activities. For example, several of Russia’s biggest banks have been blocked from doing business in other countries. The goal of the sanctions is to make the war too costly for Russia to continue fighting. 

Dozens of companies have also suspended business operations in Russia as a form of protest. McDonald’s and Starbucks, for instance, have closed hundreds of locations throughout the country.

No. Biden has stated that U.S. troops will not be going to Ukraine. However, he has sent thousands of additional U.S. forces to Europe to guard against a possible invasion of other countries there. Such forces are helping to protect European nations that the U.S. has sworn to defend through longstanding military agreements, such as Germany, Poland, and Romania. (No such agreement exists between the U.S. and Ukraine.) 

As Russian forces continue to bombard Ukrainian cities, citizens there are seeking shelter in basements and subway stations. More than 3 million people have already fled the country as refugees. U.S. government officials have predicted that as many as 50,000 civilians and 35,000 Ukrainian and Russian troops could be killed in the conflict. 

Many European governments—including those of Poland and Moldova—have already taken in large numbers of displaced Ukrainian citizens. Individuals from neighboring countries have been helping as well, by handing out food, toiletries, and other necessities to Ukrainians as they cross the border and arrive in these nations. Others have temporarily opened their homes to refugees who need a safe place to spend the night.

People across the globe have been showing their support for Ukraine by holding rallies and demonstrations. Protests have even taken place in Russia, where many citizens oppose the invasion. If you’d like to get involved, consider asking your parent or guardian for permission to join—or organize—a protest in your area.

To have a more direct impact, you could also talk to your family about holding a fund-raiser and donating the money you collect to an organization helping Ukrainian citizens, such as the International Rescue Committee or Save the Children.

Raising awareness on social media is another way to show your support. Many people have been posting images of sunflowers—Ukraine’s national flower—or the country’s blue and yellow flag in solidarity.

For more on what kids in the U.S. are doing to help Ukraine, don’t miss the article coming soon in our May issue.