THEHEART-WRENCHINGTALE OFATRAGEDY:RELIVINGTHE PIVOTALMOMENTS

By Julius Gutbrod '25

It has been over one year since, on February 24 2022, the Russian government declared that they would conduct special military operations in Ukraine to "denazify and demilitarize" the Ukrainian government and safeguard the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, which Russia had recognized as legitimate states three days prior As a result, unnecessary human bloodshed has once again shaken Europe despite its hopes to never experience war again. The conflict, which has been simmering since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, has escalated As of March 5, 2023, it is estimated that upwards of 21 580 thousand civilians have been killed or injured, an estimated 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers are injured or dead, and upwards of 180.000 Russian soldiers have died or are injured And it seems that there is no end in sight This article will cover the timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war and contain a small analysis of the current state, especially around Bakhmut.

24February-March2022:

On February 24, 2022, Russia declared it would conduct “special military operations” in Ukraine. On the same day, Putin demanded that all Ukrainian forces surrender They would be rewarded with leniency if they complied: “All servicemen of the Ukrainian army who comply with this requirement will be able to freely leave the combat zone and return to their families " "All responsibility for possible bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the ruling regime on the territory of Ukraine.”

What Putin did not expect was for all of Ukraine to defy him and come closer together as a nation than ever before. A symbol of such defiance was the Snake Islands, which were approached by a Russian warship that demanded their surrender The response of the 13 soldiers stationed at the islands was, “Russian warship, go f*** yourself.” This quickly spread not just in Ukraine but around the world; it became a symbol of defiance against the Russian government On the same day, the Anotov airport battle took place, which marked Russia's first major success. However, this came at a cost; Anotov Airport was virtually destroyed, and Russia was unable to use it as a base of operations to drill further into the Ukrainian lines. Quickly, the Russian army started to gain ground in the north, south, and east of the country, with Kherson being besieged and taken on March 2, 2022 In the direction of Kyiv, Russia also made progress, but Ukrainian positions stopped them. Russia shelled Kyiv and sent multiple expeditionary forces inside the city. President Zelensky then armed civilians, asking them to “neutralize” the enemy In total, the Ukrainian military distributed an estimate of 18.000 guns. As fighting continued, the United States offered to exfiltrate President Zelensky; however, Zelensky responded with an iconic phrase: “I need ammunition, not a ride”

Russia had also started to bomb civilian institutions such as children's hospitals and schools, with one report stating that when artillery fire struck the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, a six-year-old kid was killed and several others were injured.

A kind of foreshadowing for the brutality and atrocities that were going to be committed and are still being committed by Russia during this war. By the end of February, it had become abundantly clear that Russia had failed to encircle Kyiv and quickly bring down the Ukrainian regime The Ukrainian government declared that it would sell war bonds to pay the armed forces, and the Ukrainian parliament declared that the Military Forces of Belarus had joined Russia's invasion and were stationed in Chernihiv Oblast, northeast of Kyiv. The US firmly refuted this, claiming that there is no evidence that Belarus is actively involved in the fighting. Russian bombardments continued for several days, and rockets targeted Kyiv's major television and radio transmitter infrastructure, destroying TV networks. On March 2, they pushed on Horlivka, seizing Makarov. Russia and Ukraine agreed to construct humanitarian

Additionally, the Russian Defense Ministry had announced the establishment of six humanitarian corridors, although the Ukrainian government slammed the announcement as many of the corridors led into Russia itself. Russia had deployed almost all of its forces prior to the invasion, and it had fired over 625 missiles The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported the assassination of Russian Major General Vitaly Gerasimov near Kharkiv, but he was discovered alive when he received the Order of Alexander Nevsky on May 23 Meanwhile, Turkey hosted a trilateral meeting of foreign ministers in Antalya. On the ground, Russian troops had moved west of Kyiv, with a column moving east 40 kilometers away. The Russian military had kidnapped Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol, while Maj Gen Andrei Kolesnikov, a top Russian commander, had been reported killed in action. Putin had authorized the deployment of up to 16,000 Middle Eastern volunteers to Ukraine, with the Wagner Group recruiting almost 4,000 Syrians Russian forces used more than 30 missiles to attack the Yavoriv International Center for Peacekeeping and Security, a military facility that the Ukrainian military used for the majority of its NATO drills Moscow also had launched its most western strike since the beginning of the war. During the day, heavy fighting had been reported on multiple fronts, with Ukraine counter-attacking in Kharkiv Oblast and around Mykolaiv The UK Ministry of Defense had stated that Russian forces were attempting to isolate Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine, and the Russian Navy had established an effective blockade around Ukraine's Black Sea coastline Despite the violence and devastation of war there were

The humanitarian corridor arrangement resulted in the evacuation of nearly 125,000 civilians, while Russian and Ukrainian diplomats had reported progress in peace talks On March 26th, Ukraine launched a series of small counterattacks, retaking villages and strategic positions around Kharkiv Meanwhile, the Zelensky government stated that it was willing to accept a neutral, non-nuclear status as part of a peace deal with Russia. However, any agreement would need to be approved in a statewide referendum

Between February 24th and March 2022 the Ukrainians banded together to oppose Russia’s attack and protect their country's sovereignty. Despite being a smaller and weaker country, Ukraine's military put up a fierce fight And Russia, which thought it could topple Ukraine in three days, needed to brace itself for a longer and more protracted conflict.

April2022-September2022:

One of the most gruesome incidents occurred on April 1 when the Bucha Massacre film was uncovered after Russian soldiers had left the city Over 458 bodies were discovered, including nine children under the age of 18. According to local officials, 419 of the 458 people were shot, while 39 appeared to have died naturally The exact death toll remains unknown due to the vast number of mass graves at Bucha. On April 2, the Kyiv offensive failed, and Russian soldiers retreated to Chernobyl. Meanwhile, on April 8, a Russian missile strike on a train station in Kramatorsk resulted in at least 57 deaths and more than 109 wounded. The Russian defense ministry denied the news, calling it a "provocation" and totally incorrect. In the following days, more graves containing dozens of Ukrainian citizens were uncovered in Buzova, and Putin appointed Russian Army General Aleksandr Dvornikov as the new commander of Russia's military action in Ukraine. On April 13, Ukraine sank the Russian cruiser Moskva after two missiles fired at the ship ignited a fire that spread to its ammunition. Russia denies that an accident-caused fire occurred and claims that Ukraine sank the Moskva.

As the conflict continued, casualties on both sides mounted On April 16, Major General Vladimir Petrovich Frolov was reported killed in action, and many Ukrainian personnel were also lost. By this date, over 23,677 people had lost their lives in the conflict. On May 7, Russia allegedly dropped a bomb on a school in the village of Bilohorivka, killing two people and leaving another 60 feared dead. Additionally, a house in the village of Shypilovo was shelled, with 11 people left buried beneath the debris. The siege of Mariupol ended on May 17 after the plant's defenders withstood a weeks-long Russian assault before surrendering in May. Ukrainian forces were evacuated from the Azovstal plant and surrendered to Russian and Donetsk People’s Republic forces, bringing the Siege of Mariupol to a close

In July, the United States announced an aid package of $820 million to help Ukraine. However, on July 3, President Zelensky also accepted the fall of the Luhansk Oblast

Russian forces in the Kharkiv region were shifted to the east bank of the Oskol river, and the Russian Ministry of Defense declared the formal withdrawal of Russian forces from virtually the whole Kharkiv Oblast by late afternoon, alleging that a "operation to limit and transfer troops" was underway

10September-9November2022:

On July 26, Ukraine and Russia agreed to allow grain shipment across the Black Sea, which would help alleviate the worldwide food crisis and bring temporary relief to millions of people. Despite occasional attempts at peace talks, the conflict continued to rage on Putin directed that 137 000 soldiers be called up for deployment in

12 September: Ukraine claimed it had reached the Russia–Ukraine border Zelensky said Ukraine announced on September 12 that its forces had reached the Russian border. According to President Zelensky, the Ukrainian military had reclaimed a significant amount of territory in the south and east, covering 6,000 square kilometers (2,300 square miles), but the BBC was unable to verify these claims. The Russian military was reported to have left Kiselyovka, a town located 15 kilometers outside Kherson, on September 13 The Ukrainian military reported on September 15 that it had advanced by 12 kilometers, reclaimed 500 square kilometers (190 square miles), and taken control of 13 settlements in the Kherson region The United States announced another $600 million aid package for Ukraine on the same day. On September 20, looting and voluntary surrender were both prohibited in Russia Breaking either of these prohibitions during mobilization or martial law was punishable, and refusing to carry out a command or participate in a military operation was also considered illegal. Failure to report for duty or leave without authorization resulted in increased penalties

Although Kyiv and its Western backers were unwilling to negotiate peace, President Putin stated that Moscow is willing to do so Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, accused the West of inciting the situation in Ukraine rather than settling it. Zelenskyy departed for the United States, his first official journey outside of Russia since the beginning of the war In the face of mounting political pressure, Germany eventually agreed to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 battle tanks, paving the way for the US and other NATO nations to follow suit. Others questioned if the number of tanks was sufficient and whether Ukraine would be able to properly use them on the battlefield. Some hailed the decision as a significant boost to Kyiv's military effort, which might pave the way for additional offensives Russia and Belarus have begun joint exercises, sparking fears that Moscow may use its ally to launch a new ground offensive in the spring. The Russian Military announced that it occupied Soledar, while Ukraine Defense minister Oleksii Reznikov denied that the city had been captured and that the combat was "very difficult." According to senior Ukrainian authorities, roughly 100 Leopard 2 tanks from a dozen different countries are on their way to Ukraine German Chancellor Olaf Scholz decided to provide 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks to Ukraine, while the US plans to send 31 M1 Abrams tanks. These tanks, along with contributions from other countries, will total approximately 88 Leopard tanks These tanks, along with contributions from other countries, will total approximately 88 Leopard tanks. The governments of Australia and France have reached an agreement on Ukraine, with "France and Australia will jointly furnish Ukraine with 155mm ammunition " In

While in Kiev, US Vice President Joseph Biden vowed additional military and financial assistance

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki paid a visit to Kiev to deliver "concrete and measurable evidence of continuing support" as Germanmade Leopard tanks from Warsaw landed. Together with increased sanctions and tariffs on Russia, the US approved $2 billion in aid for Ukraine China has proposed a peace strategy that includes a cease-fire and other initiatives that would lead to direct discussions. Russia announced the formation of the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Brigade, which is mostly composed of Ukrainian POWs, a violation of the Geneva Conventions In March, Ukrainian troops began leaving Bakhmut, and there were reports of a large number of citizens fleeing the city. According to rumors, Rheinmetall, a German business that manufactures military vehicles and munitions, is in talks with the Ukrainian government about establishing a tank plant there. Two Ukrainian pilots are currently in the nation to estimate how long it would take them to learn to operate assault aircraft like the F-16

On September 21, Vladimir Putin announced in a prepared address that partial mobilization would begin immediately. The official decree allowed any citizen to be conscripted, except for those who were too old, sick, or in prison It was reported that anti-war protesters who had been arrested were being conscripted, despite Putin's address specifying that only reservists with military experience would be called According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, 300,000 reserve members would be activated. The Ukrainian Army Forces retook the village of KupianskVuzlovyi in the Kharkiv area on September 27. As of that date, approximately 6% of the Kharkiv region's area remained occupied by Russian forces. Referendum results showed that all of the Russian-occupied areas - Donetsk (99.23% in favor), Luhansk (98.42% in favor), and Kherson (87 05% in favor) favored annexation to Russia

It is necessary to note that none of these referendums were fair and/or under international standards. On September 28, the Ukrainian police documented at least 582 war crimes committed by Russia in the previously occupied Kharkiv Oblast The United States announced a $1.15 billion relief package. Russia admitted on October 1 that it had lost control of Lyman that afternoon. According to Zelensky, the Ukrainian army retook Yampil; a town near Lyman On October 2, a Ukrainian armored onslaught broke Russian lines in the south, capturing many villages near the Dnieper River. This was the largest Ukrainian onslaught in the south since the start of the war Russia declared that its partial mobilization was complete on November 1. On November 9, Ukrainian soldiers seized Snihurivka, while Russian troops reported

Russian forces in the Kharkiv region were shifted to the east bank of the Oskol river, and the Russian Ministry of Defense declared the formal withdrawal of Russian forces from virtually the whole Kharkiv Oblast by late afternoon, alleging that a "operation to limit and transfer troops" was underway.

10November-Present:

In November 2022, the United States announced a $400 million aid package, and Ukraine effectively liberated Kherson.

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution holding Russia liable for any damage caused by the invasion, and the European Parliament branded Russia as a "state supporter of terrorism," resulting in additional sanctions In December, President Putin announced that the "special military operation" was taking longer than expected. The Russian military reduced Bakhmut to "burned ruins," according to Ukrainian President Zelensky The US aid package was estimated to total $1 8 billion, and the Netherlands pledged to help Ukraine with 2.5 billion euros by 2023.

Conclusion:

Ukraine's conflict has been ongoing for several years, with no apparent end in sight. Ukraine and the global community have been impacted tremendously Through this conflict, many will and are facing food insecurity, and the quality of life is dramatically plummeting. The ongoing loss of life, relocation of residents, and devastation of infrastructure in Ukraine have produced a sense of panic, grief, and urgency

The conflict has caused enormous human misery and has aggravated Ukraine's already precarious humanitarian situation Furthermore, the ongoing crisis in Ukraine has had far-reaching geopolitical consequences. It has damaged Russia's relations with the West, particularly with the United States and Europe The war has also prompted questions about Russia's aims in the region, as well as its willingness to use military force to achieve its goals. As a result, the crisis in Ukraine has become a major source of friction between the West and Russia, with both accusing the other of aggravating the situation. Because of the gravity of the situation in Ukraine, all parties concerned must maintain diplomatic efforts toward a peaceful resolution

Such a solution would necessitate compromises from all parties involved, which will be difficult to obtain The alternative, though, is more bloodshed, misery, and instability in the region, and that is currently the unfortunate truth. It seems that neither Russia nor Ukraine will back down So all we can expect from this war is what we all hoped would never happen again It seems as though humanity is bound to repeat the mistakes we have previously made, over and over again.