Friday, February 25, 2022
Russia invades ukraine Chris Becker Editor-in-Chief
Dru Norton and Teyte Holcomb News and Lifestyle Editors
U.S, UN Officials condemn Russian occupation
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Tribune News Service Tensions along the Ukraine Russian border have been building for months.
“(Vladimir Putin) has put himself on the wrong side of history.” The Group of Seven
Map of attacks in Ukraine
“(This is) the darkest hours for Europe since the end of World War II.” Josep Borrell, European Union
Russia launches invasion of Ukraine, stuns the international community Kylie Hammack Staff Reporter
The tension between Russia and Ukraine building for decades reached its peak. On Wednesday night, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The invasion began moments after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on state television that Russia will begin a “special military operation” on its Western neighbor. The Russian attack comes after weeks of building up forces along Ukraine’s eastern border and to the north in Belarus. Maintaining that there was no possibility of large-scale attack, Putin claimed the uptick in military presence was to “liberate” eastern Ukrainian territories containing ethnic Russians. However, any doubt of major conflict has been eliminated as Russian tanks and military vehicles rolled into Ukrainian territory via paved highways from the North and East. Russian troops and air-
borne forces are residing in an airport 15 miles outside of Kyiv. In the Southwest, missile attacks and casualties have been confirmed in the strategic Ukrainian port city of Odesa, one of Ukraine’s main strongpoints along the Black Sea. Perhaps Tribune News Service the most Residents of Kyiv have begun to flee the city during attacks. unsettling is the fighting Jonathan Ludwig, a between Russian and Ukraiteaching associate professor nian forces in the infamous of Russian at OSU weighed Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. in on Russia’s motivations for Ukrainian President Volodyinvading Ukraine. myr Zelenskyy said if the “Really the start of fighting damages the Cherwhat became modern Russian nobyl nuclear plant, it would happened in Kyiv,” Ludwig be extremely dangerous. said. “A lot of it today is more “This is a declaration about Russian colonialism.” of war against the whole of See Invasion on 2A Europe,” Zelenskyy tweeted.
Earlier this week, Russian troops formally invaded the Ukraine border, leaving millions of Ukrainian citizens in distress. This has stirred talk of how the U.S. should interfere with the Russians. OSU students shared their thoughts on what the U.S. government should do. Lucas Cassady, a sophomore at OSU, said he thinks not much can be done right now. “I’m not sure America can do anything at this point,” Cassady said. “We could be putting ourselves in danger by being involved, as horrible as that sounds.” The news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine comes just days after Vladimir Putin made a statement saying that he would remain respectful to Ukraine and its people. Contrary to the claims Putin made earlier in the week, he has since released a full invasion on the Ukrainian border. Claire Stolfa, a junior at OSU, said she thinks America needs to do something quick. “The U.S. needs to go in with more troops, regardless of Putin’s threats,” Stolfa said. “More aid and funding need to be sent for refugees, and we need to help people get out of Ukraine.”
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Around 9 p.m. on Wednesday a report was sent across the U.S. as the President of Russia Vladimir Putin appeared on state TV for a historic announcement. Putin announced the undertaking of a “special military operation” in the Donbas region of Ukraine, a region containing “pro-Moscow” republics. In his speech, Putin said the goal of the operation was to “not occupy Ukraine.” Explosions were heard in multiple major Ukrainian cities immediately after Putin’s statement. Cities reporting explosions included the capital city of Kyiv and Kharkiv, the second largest city in the country. Explosions and attacks have since been reported in more than a dozens Ukrainian cities, with reports that Russian troops are 15 miles outside of Kyiv, controlling at least one airfield. The announcement from Putin comes weeks after Russian troops, reportedly nearing 190,000, increased their presence at the Ukrainian border. Hours after the original explosions were heard, airstrike sirens could be heard in the background of CNN broadcasts from Kyiv. CNN also received video from the Ukrainian border guard showing Russian troops and tanks crossing the Ukrainian border from Belarus. See U.S, UN on 3A
America’s position against Russia
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See America’s on 2A
War in Ukraine shakes OSU students O’Colly Editorial Staff
When OSU students woke up on Wednesday, they celebrated a day of no class due to winter weather, however, when they went to sleep, no celebrations were happening. Students went to sleep with the weight of the beginning of a war in Europe, as Russia began an invasion of Ukraine. Most OSU students have not witnessed the onset of war in their lives, sparking fear for what could come for Europeans and the world. The invasion sent many thoughts through the heads of students, but mostly thoughts of confusion and disbelief. “I feel like they are doing the best they can,” Lucas Casady, an OSU sophomore said. “It’s really horrible to see videos on TikTok of people literally getting their homes bombed. I can’t imagine being in their place, it’s really scary to think about. This will definitely be a monumental moment in history.” Some students saw the moment as a flex of muscles from Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The thought of the size of Ukraine compared to Russia worried students for the safety of the innocent civilians living in the country. See Ukraine on 2A
Timeline Feb. 2014: - Ukrainian protesters overthrow President Viktor Yanukovych. April 2014: - Russia invades and annexes the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. Two regions also break off from Ukraine, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic. 2014-15: - Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany sign a series of cease-fire agreements known as the Minsk Accords. April 2019: - Volodymyr Zelensky is elected as the new Ukrainian president. He promised to restore Donbas to the country. Nov. 2021: - U.S. surveillance shows build up of Russian troops along the border with Ukraine. Jan. 24, 2022: - NATO puts forces on standby and reinforces its military presence in Eastern Europe with more ships and fighter jets. Some Western nations start evacuating non-essential embassy staff from Kyiv. Jan. 27: - Biden warns of possible Russian invasion of Ukraine in February. Feb. 1 - Putin denies planning an invasion and accuses the US of ignoring his country’s security demands. Feb. 11 - Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, says US intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days, before the Beijing Olympics end on February 20. Feb. 14 - Pentagon spokesman John Kirby warns that Putin was boosting military capability near Ukraine’s border with each passing day. Feb. 18 - Biden says he was “convinced” Putin has made a decision to invade Ukraine, warning Moscow against starting what he called a “war of choice” that would be catastrophic. Feb. 19 - The Russian-backed leaders of Ukraine’s two breakaway regions announce a general mobilization, spurring fears of a further escalation. Feb. 21 - Putin recognizes two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent entities and then orders Russian troops to “maintain peace” there. Feb. 22 - Biden announces what he calls the “first tranche” of sanctions against Russia, including steps to starve the country of financing. Feb. 23 - Russian forces unleash an attack on Ukraine, as Putin demands the neighboring country’s army lay down its weapons. Feb. 24 - Russia continues to push into Ukraine through different border points.