We never wanted war, and we want the war to end.
- theearthyouthproject
- Mar 1, 2022
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 2, 2022
An inside look into what is happening now in Ukraine
Ongoing military attacks, destroyed buildings and injured civilians including children. This is the reality that Ukrainian people are now experiencing. The aftermath of a war that has broken in Ukraine as of February 24th, 2022, with Russian troops invading the country and killing hundreds of civilians.
To understand the current developments of the war, it is necessary to turn back time and look back at a chain of events that started in November 2013. At the time, thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets to express their discontent with the decision of their President, who refused to align the country closer with the EU and instead chose to do so with Russia. These series of protests took place in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, also known as the Maidan protests. Despite outrageous actions from Ukrainian security forces, the demonstrations continued, forcing President Yanukovych to flee to Russia in February 2014. Russia reacted by annexing the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and later supporting groups of pro-Russian separatists in the Eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk (often referred to as the Donbas region) with resources, materials and troops. Despite clear evidence of Russian ‘green men’ in action, these claims have been long disputed by Russia.
Since 2014, the conflict intensified at various points, but the frontline has largely remained the same despite various diplomatic attempts to find a solution. When Putin recognised Luhansk and Donetsk as independent regions last Tuesday on February 22nd, and later initiated a ‘special operation’ against the whole of Ukraine, it marked a new phase in the war that first started in 2014. It has now developed into a Russian attempt to remove a democratically elected government in Europe by brute force in a clear violation of international law.
Julie’s hometown is in Lviv, but her and her family currently live in Kyiv, the capital, one of the first targeted cities by Russian missiles. She grew up and went to school there. Many of her school friends are still stuck in Kyiv with their families. Some that had left to study abroad are left fearing for the safety of their loved ones. “It is very important for us to make sure that the world knows of the crimes and the atrocities that Russia is committing currently in Ukraine” she articulates, as she bravely helps to share information and updates about her country, asking her international friends to pay attention and help stop this war.
When asked about the moments leading up to the war, she explained how high tensions during the winter alerted Ukraine that an invasion might be coming. “We started preparing for an actual attack and war this winter, when Russian troops surrounded our borders, and they started to allegedly have their military training in Belarus. We knew this could not be a good sign, and soon enough, European intelligence confirmed Russian’s plans to attack.”
As Russian troops began to assemble at Ukraine’s borders between February 21-23rd, the government took precautions, educating citizens so that they were aware of what to do in the case of an attack happening. People were adverted to where the nearest bunkers and safety points were, how to access them and how to act in the case of war. “We hoped until the very end that the war would not take place. But we knew we had to be prepared. We tried to be peaceful, we tried to negotiate. Putin refused, and he attacked us during the night.”
“We hoped until the very end that the war would not take place.”
The attack came as a surprise to many, as the Ukrainian people weren’t ready for an attack in these conditions. “No one was in the bunker. No one knew, no one expected to wake up to the sound of rockets. We didn’t think before going to sleep that that would be the last peaceful night that we would have in some time”. Since the first attack during the early hours of February 24th, people fled to the bunkers, with many refuging in the metro station, trying to stay safe.
As any other European country nowadays, the cities aren’t made for war, and in the case of Ukraine, many of the bunkers were no longer operational. “Our bunkers hadn’t been used for a while and since Ukraine is a peaceful country, we somewhat naively didn’t think that we would need them. We were all hoping that there would be no war”. She describes that some bunkers had been either abandoned or transformed into restaurants or other types of establishments, and that they could no longer be used. “And even with the bunkers that we do have, I don’t think we have enough space for all of the citizens of Kyiv to be in the bunker.” Just to have an idea, Kyiv’s population is of 2.88 million people, and Ukraine’s population is around 44 million people.
“No one was in the bunker. No one knew, no one expected to wake up to the sound of rockets. We didn’t think before going to sleep that that would be the last peaceful night that we would have in some time”.
This has left many people remaining in their homes, praying that the houses where they have lived for most of their lives are not targeted by Russian rockets. “I know at least three of my friends’ families that are staying in their flats. My friends keep calling them every hour to make sure their parents are still alive, to make sure they are okay.” This is the reality for the Ukrainian people, with some being lucky enough to escape during the first day of war. Many are fleeing through Poland, which started accepting and helping the refugees.
To date, the UN refugee agency has remarked that more than 368,000 people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries. “My parents were within the lucky ones, escaping after the first night of attacks from the capital of Kyiv to the province of Lviv. It took them a whole day to make a journey that usually takes about 5 hours going from door to door. Most of my friends and their families remain hiding in bunkers.”
“I know at least three of my friends’ families that are staying in their flats. My friends keep calling them every hour to make sure their parents are still alive, to make sure they are okay.”
As Russian troops advance and continue to attack Kyiv and other cities, they are also attacking hospitals, kindergartens, and residential areas. Most recently, reports revealed that Russian troops have blown up an oil terminal in the town of Vasylkiv last night, which is situated 40km away from the capital, Kyiv. Ensuing not only a prominent ecological disaster but also positing additional health threats. “The burning of oil produces toxic fumes, and this can potentially suffocate people around it. And this site was bombed near Kyiv, which is very close to a large residential area.”
Reports have also submerged of Russian troops taking a hold of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant at the north of Ukraine, which still currently holds radioactive waste, that had been since shielded. Plant workers have been taken as hostages and a spike in radiation levels of nearly twenty times higher than normal levels has been detected as of last Thursday. “We don’t know what they are doing and what effect this is going to have”. And yet the Ukrainian people are showing resilience, bravery, and courage in the face of a war they did not choose. Images are surfacing of people joining the army and helping to protect their people in any way they can, even when they are weaponless. “A town in Ukraine stopped Russian tanks, simply by forming a human shield. They started walking down the street and pushed the tanks back. No weapons, just sheer human power.”
“A town in Ukraine stopped Russian tanks, simply by forming a human shield. They started walking down the street and pushed the tanks back. No weapons, just sheer human power.”
Thousands are now coming together to protect their cities and joining the so-called civilian troops, with queues to join civilian troops simply because there are not enough weapons. “People are also making Molotov cocktails to use against tanks and make them inoperable.”
These are especially dire days for the civil population in Ukraine, where there have been numerous reports of attacks targeting civilians, for example a cluster bomb attack against a school in Okhtyrka according to Amnesty International. Russia is violating the human rights of those living in Ukraine on a daily basis and has intensified a war where the civilian population is the biggest victim.
Fearlessness and strength are the words Julie uses to describe the Ukrainian army. “They keep fighting day and night to protect us, to push the aggressor back. We know that Russia thought it was going to invade and take a hold of Kyiv in one night, but they failed. We keep pushing them back. We keep winning back territories.” When asked about the targeting of civilians, she described it as a tactic to generate panic and chaos. “They want to make us panic, and they want to destabilise us. They thought if they killed our children, if they attacked our homes, that we would run away scared. But we didn’t. We put up a hell of fight and the Russians and even Europe did not expect that. They are starting to see how resilient my people are, how brave my people are.”
“They keep fighting day and night to protect us. Russia thought it was going to invade and take a hold of Kyiv in one night, but they failed. We keep pushing them back. We keep winning back territories. They are starting to see how resilient my people are, how brave my people are.” –On describing the Ukrainian army
“Some Russian soldiers were told that they were on a rescue mission, and they are now met with road signs which read “Russian troops, f*ck off”. No one wants them in Ukraine, no one wanted this war. We want the war to end. Our main plea is for someone to shield our sky. Currently, the only weapons that the Russians have that overpower us are the rockets that they use to again, target the residents, target our cities, destroy our infrastructure.”
Julie is currently working in Paris, and she shared how surreal it feels to watch as her country endures these atrocities, and how many people are still quite dissociated with the situation. “On Thursday as I went to work, no one knew that my country was at war. By Friday, most of them knew what was happening, and I got tons of messages from my friends asking if we are okay. The answer is that we are not okay. Nobody in Ukraine is safe. We are fighting back and we are trying to do our best, but we are not okay and we need the world to listen.”
“We are not okay. Nobody in Ukraine is safe. We are fighting back and we are trying to do our best, but we are not okay.”
She reflects on the trauma and magnitude that the Ukrainian people are enduring and that will leave a mark for the rest of their lives. “I had breakfast today with a friend of mine that managed to escape and made it to Paris, but her friends are still stuck in Kyiv. She is so terrified and shocked that she now jumps out of fear when hearing a motorcycle in the street. I cannot imagine how people back home feel. People who have been under constant attacks and airstrikes during the night.”
An ongoing petition is now circulating which is asking to protect the Ukrainian sky. “We are asking to shield us from the Russian rockets. Otherwise, overnight Russians are going to keep destroying my country, killing my people and creating ecological disasters.”
“It makes me hopeful to see so many people supporting Ukraine and governments starting to act. Now is the time to stand united, fight for our future and put an end to this war”.
At the time of publishing this article, Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, is in the Ukrainian people’s hands, with Russia facing several military setbacks. Multiple European countries are joining in and offering military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Anti-war protests, prayer meetings and vigils are being held across the globe, ushering governments to listen, and act to end the war. Thousands of people are coming together and going out into the streets in support of Ukraine, including thousands of anti-war protesters in Russia, with more than 1,400 being detained as of Sunday February 27th. “It makes me hopeful to see so many people supporting Ukraine and governments starting to act. Now is the time to stand united, fight for our future and put an end to this war”.
What can you do? Some useful resources 🇺🇦
It is normal to feel helpless during these hard times. Some things that you can do include joining local protests to pressure local governments and show your support for Ukraine. You can also monitor your local groups for any humanitarian needs such as providing shelter or supplies for Ukrainian refugees.
#StandWithUkraine (https://standwithukraine.live) is a platform created by climate activists with many resources including:
1) Finding when and where the next peaceful protest near you is happening
2) A list of organisations that you can donate to, such as Save the Children and Ukraine Relief.
Many POC are fleeing Ukraine and they may struggle with a language barrier, Instagram account @nigeriansleavingukraine was created to help support them. Additionally, we suggest they get in touch with their Embassies for further guidance.
Support independent journalism in Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent (www.kyivindependent.com)
You can also join and sign the petition to help close the airspace over Ukraine here: https://www.openpetition.eu/petition/online/people-around-the-world-ask-nato-to-close-the-airspace-over-ukraine
Pages or accounts you can follow
Instagram @withukraine
Instagram @guardian (page for The Guardian, independent journalism in the UK, doing a live coverage of the situation in Ukraine)
Disclaimer: Remember to always try to stay informed through credible sources and share resources consciously.
Article words by Conchita Fraguas Bringas and Christoffer Nielsen
The Earth Youth Project
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