Destruction of cities, thousands of deaths, and dire economic consequences. There seems to be no end to the number of military operations inside and around Ukraine, and thus no end to the suffering of millions of people. On the contrary, nuclear power plants are now being misused as military bases. For weeks, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, Zaporizhzhya, has been under attack.
The head of the militia administration in Ukraine, Alexander Volga, reports that the shots fired at the nuclear station target the storage facilities for nuclear waste and isotopes. The storage facilities are located very close to the reactors. If a reactor is actually hit, it is no longer a local disaster, but a global one.
In Putin’s eyes, it is not a war, but rather a special military operation to “denazify” Ukraine and protect Russian-speaking citizens on Ukrainian territory. The conflict has existed since 2014 and was triggered by the Putin’s invasion of Crimea.
Russia demands security guarantees from NATO and the US, in the form of a reduction in military presence on the eastern side of NATO territories and, above all, a halt to the eastern expansion of NATO.
If NATO continues to interfere, Russia will resist, Putin says. He threatens: “If anyone from the outside intends to intervene in the current events and create strategic threats for Russia, we will react swiftly and decisively. Russia has all the means to do so and is ready to use them if necessary -- Russia is prepared for any occasion.”
Europe and the rest of the world reacted in horror to the military invasion. Solidarity is shown with Ukraine, weapons and essential material are being supplied, and sanctions are introduced against Russia.
More than ten million people are on the run, war crimes are committed in many areas and an energy crisis has unleashed, to name a few consequences.
Orysia Lutsevych, head of Chatham House, a think-thank in London, comments on the developments in the war. She believes a possible easing of the conflict could happen towards the end of the year or early 2023. Lutsevych: “By that time there will probably be a new military division lacking recognition and with Ukraine most probably never recognizing Russia’s annexation. It could take some time before the Russian elite undergoes a revolution and realises that it is on the wrong track, as Russia is suffering from technological and financial isolation. After that, there might be an opening for serious negotiations. But given Putin’s political mindset, a solution through negotiations is unlikely in the near future.”
Ukraine fears that Russia will step up attacks on Wednesday, on Ukraine’s Independence Day. If that would be the case, Ukraine would respond with firm reactions, says President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
