1 Year Update: Russo-Ukrainian Students, staff reflect on war

david MOSS

Karina Solomakhina, senior, is from the U.S., but the rest of her family is from Ukraine, and most of them currently live there and have been faced with hard choices as the war there has now lasted for more than a year.

Solomakhina said three of her dad’s nieces and their families have moved to Canada recently as a direct result from the attempted Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has now lasted for 14 months.

“Learning English makes them nervous because it’s a big change and it’s harder to learn a new language when you’re older,” Solomakhina said.

She said they are now looking for jobs to support their family.

“It’s really great that Ukraine has been able to hold up this much,” Solomakhina said. “It sucks that they’re still in this position though.”

Professional Perspective

Dr. Sophia Wilson, professor of political science at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and president of the American Association for Ukrainian Studies, said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been nothing short of genocide.

“There is an abundance of evidence that there were war crimes committed, not as a side effect of war but as a strategy of war,” Dr. Wilson said.

Dr. Wilson said civilians in much of unoccupied Ukraine face Russian artillery fire and aerial bombardment, while those under Russian occupation face the violence and harsh repression of the Russian

Major Events in the Russo-Ukrainian War military.

Russia has also attempted to suppress Ukrainian culture and language in occupied regions. As part of this, thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcefully deported to Russia where they are prevented from studying their native language and are taught how to be Russian, Dr. Wilson said.

“They’ve given Ukrainians two choices: either subjugate or die,” Dr. Wilson said.

Though it is generally assumed Russia did not expect significant Ukrainian resistance, Dr. Wilson believes otherwise. After the Ukrainian Revolution in 2014, a democratic government was formed. Russia, fearful of their lack of control over the new democracy, attempted to occupy the country by supporting rebel groups in Ukraine.

“Ukrainian civilians then went on the street, and they fought against these Russia-orchestrated coups

The Russo-Ukrainian War has led to many key moments and developments for both countries.

April, 2022

Russia pulls back from Kyiv

Military deaths may be more than 23,000 but not confirmed Dead or wounded may be nearly 30,000, though the actual number is likely much higher

Information from MediaZona and United Nations

May, 2023

Russia launches 8th attack on Kyiv since month started

September, 2022

Kyiv Kharkiv Mariupol

March, 2022

Ukraine forces Russia back from Kharkiv

March, 2023

July, 2022

Port of Chornomorsk

Global food security problem is ended when Russia and Ukraine start trading grain again at Ukraine's Black Sea Ports

Fighting in Bahmut, with each side claiming they control the city, Ukraine gets its first delivery of Western Tanks Kherson

Russia claims control of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, which is Europe's largest counteroffensive leads to Russia pullback from Kherson

March, 2022

Russia strikes Mariupol Theater, in what has been considered one of the deadliest acts of the war

October, 2022

Bridge blown up by truck with explosives.

Russia blames Ukraine and launches missile strikes on Ukraine power plants that leads to power outages

May, 2022

Bahmut Military deaths may be more than 30,000

After a 3-month siege, Ukraine surrenders to Russia forces in Mariupol