Invasion of Ukraine

By: Anderson Bishop ‘25 Contributor

February 24 will mark the one year anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine, which occurred just over 7 years after Russia invaded Crimea in February 2014. Since then, over 42,000 people have died, nearly 54,000 have been injured, and approximately 14 million people remain displaced, having fled to escape the violence and destruction occurring in their home country. However, despite the atrocities and hardships they have endured, the people of Ukraine have stayed strong and resilient even with the constant threat of danger.

In particular, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has remained a symbol of strength and a beacon of hope amidst the rubble of his once-thriving cities. At the start of the war, the United States offered to assist in the evacuation of President Zelenskyy as Russian tanks rolled across the border. Zelenskyy refused, choosing to remain with his people. He became a global sensation when he said, “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.” Since then, he has, without fail, addressed his nation via video every night. Always wearing his now iconic green t-shirt, he speaks with quiet strength to bolster the spirits of his country’s men, women, and children.

The invasion spurred tremendous global outrage over Russia’s actions. International support for Ukraine quickly emerged and has remained strong across social media; “#IStandWithUkraine” and “#Ukraine Strong'' trended across social media platforms merely hours after the first news of the invasion. Washington D.C.-based celebrity chef José Andrés, known for providing humanitarian aid to those in need after disasters with his foundation, World Central Kitchen, was quick to respond to the Ukrainian crisis. WCK began serving meals to refugees less than 24 hours after the invasion began and quickly surpassed 600,000 meals daily. Many countries also played key roles in aiding Ukraine over the past year; the United States alone has committed over $27 Billion in military aid.

When Russia first invaded Ukraine, many experts predicted that the Russians would overrun the country in a matter of days. Nearly a year later, Ukraine retains most of its territorial integrity and has regained some areas that Russia once occupied. There is no sign of the war’s end, and yet, the people of Ukraine have proven their resilience and strength time and time again.