Topline
It has been six months since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that has forced millions of Ukrainians to flee their homes and is estimated to have killed or injured tens of thousands of Russian soldiers , while Russia’s economy has tightened under the pressure of a series of Western sanctions.
A Ukrainian soldier waves a Ukrainian flag.
Key Facts
So far, Russia has won in the war There were some small victories: After an early failure to capture the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, Russian troops shifted their energies to the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, eventually taking control of Luhansk province, but not Donetsk province.
Ukraine has been able to thwart Russia’s efforts with the help of weapons donated by several allies, including the United States The U.S. has so far provided $10.6 billion in aid to Ukraine, with the U.S. expected to announce another $3 billion on Wednesday.
According to federal government data, after a series of measures implemented by the United States and its allies, the Russian economy is in the first place After growing 3.5% quarterly, the second quarter took a hit, shrinking 4% from a year earlier. Sanctions, including on Russian oligarchs, banks, allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, while the EU pledged to cut oil purchases.
Dozens of major companies have withdrawn from the Russia war, including Spotify, Nike, H&M, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Starbucks.
The six-month mark comes as Ukraine celebrates Independence Day, which U.S. officials have twice feared could lead Russia to ramp up its scrutiny of civilian infrastructure and government facilities this week. attack strength.
Ukrainian troops ride to the front with Russian troops on tanks.
Surprising facts
According to White House officials estimated this month that about 80,000 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded during the war. By comparison, Ukraine has lost about 9,000 soldiers since the war began, a Ukrainian official said this week. Some 5,587 civilians were killed and 7,890 injured in Ukraine, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, but the organization noted that the actual death toll was likely much higher. Ukrainian officials in some cities estimate that more than 10,000 civilians have been killed in the Russian attack. The UNHCR said most civilian casualties were caused by shelling, airstrikes and other heavy artillery explosions.
People fleeing war in Ukraine live in a temporary refugee Shelter.
Large numbers
at least 12 million. How many Ukrainians have fled their homes as of July, according to the United Nations. About 6.65 million Ukrainian refugees had been recorded across Europe as of August 17, according to the UNHCR. Most have traveled to neighboring Russia and Poland. The UN refugee agency estimates that about 7 million people have been displaced inside Ukraine since the war began.
A teddy bear hangs on the tree in front A bomb-destroyed building in Borodianka, Upper Ukraine.
Tangent
The war has caused 113.5 billion Ukrainian infrastructure has been damaged, according to the latest estimates from the Kyiv School of Economics. The researchers estimate that infrastructure damage will cost about $200 billion to repair. According to the Kyiv School of Economics, the war took the largest toll on housing, with 131,300 residential buildings damaged and destroyed, costing $47.8 billion.
Main background
Russia began a series of missile attacks on Ukraine on February 24, as Putin claimed that “special military operations” were aimed at ” Demilitarize Ukraine”. The U.S. and allies around the world have denounced what they called the unjustified aggression, swiftly provided aid to Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Russia to punish Putin. While sanctions have put some pressure on the Russian economy, an increase in oil purchases from countries such as China and Turkey has helped offset some of Russia’s losses. Russia started the war targeting Kyiv, but turned its efforts east after failing to capture the capital. Experts say the war has reached a certain level of hiatus after six months. Some tensions have flared in recent weeks after Ukrainian officials privately suggested they were behind multiple bombings at Kremlin-occupied military bases in Crimea, including one that reportedly destroyed nine Russian warplanes. event. Russia has also been quick to accuse Ukraine of orchestrating a car bombing last week that killed the daughter of Alexander Dugin, a close ally of Putin.
Notes
Long-standing conflict. Experts at the Atlantic Council, an international affairs think-tank, said Ukraine had “defeated the Russian army with firm determination and a vast array of Western weapons” but the war was “far from over”. The conflict “appears to be entering a protracted war of attrition that will test the resolve of Ukraine and the West,” the think tank concluded in an article.
Further reading
6 months after the invasion, what’s the end of Ukraine? (ABC News)
Where Russia’s war in Ukraine stands — and what’s next (when)
Russia ‘steps up’ as Ukraine’s Independence Day approaches, civilians strike, US warns (Forbes)
Western sanctions are hurting but not yet destroying Russia’s economy (Washington Post)
