After 6 months of Russia-Ukraine War, thousands dead and a nuclear disaster threat
It has been six months since February 24 when Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine on a 'special military operation'.
The operation turned into a full-fledged war in a few days, and since then tens of thousands of people have been killed, millions have been displaced, and it has affected the economy of the entire world.
It was the biggest attack on a European country since World War 2, and the conflict is not looking to end any time soon.
The death toll: The latest UN figures found 5,514 civilian deaths during Russia's military attack on Ukraine as of August 15, 2022. At least 972 Ukrainian children have been killed or injured from violence, but the true number is likely to be much higher, said the UN.
Ukraine's military chief has said nearly 9,000 soldiers have died since Russia invaded Ukraine. US intelligence estimates that some 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed so far in Ukraine.
The refugee crisis: The war in Ukraine has also led to one of the worst refugee crises ever. More than 6.7 people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded their country. The UNHCR has registered nearly 11 million border crossings out of Ukraine, reported India Today.
Ukrainian resilience: The invasion of Ukraine was not at all easy for the Russian troops. Soon after the attack, Russian forces faced huge resilience from the Ukrainian forces in the north, east and south. Civilians prepared Molotov cocktails as they got ready to defend the capital. And now, after 6 months, the momentum seems to be tilting against Russia with Ukraine getting help from US and European countries.
Threat of nuclear disaster: The fear that the fight between Russia and Ukraine around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, could lead to a major nuclear disaster has increased over the last one week as the area around the nuclear power plant has come under heavy shelling. The plant has been under Russia's control since March.
Economic crisis: The war in Ukraine, the sanctions on Russia and Moscow's decision not to sell oil and gas to several European countries has adversely affected the global economy. It has led to steep rises in the prices of fertiliser, wheat, metals and energy and a severe shortage of fuel supply in Europe. The International Monetary Fund now forecasts the world's economy will grow 3.2% this year, down from 6.1% last year.
War crimes: On April 3 and 4, after hundreds of bodies were found in towns near Kyiv, Ukraine accused Russia of committing war crimes. Mass graves and bodies of people shot at close range were found in the recaptured town of Bucha. There have been many other reports of war crimes being committed but both countries have denied involvement in any war crimes.
Russians divided: While many people in Russia have called the invasion of Ukraine necessary, there are quite a few who have voiced deep regret towards the Ukrainians. "I am very sad for the Ukrainians. They are suffering for nothing, they did not do anything wrong," Dmitry Romanenko, a 35-year-old IT specialist, told AFP on the streets of central Moscow.
When will the war end? As the winter is nearing, war seems to be getting uglier and the conflict might go on for a very long time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has promised Tuesday that Kyiv would restore its rule over Crimea. Russia is also in no mood to retreat even as the fight has intensified.
Russian forces are trying to take control of Ukraine's east region and get full control over the country's industrial heartland Ukrainian forces have increased the offensive to reclaim territory in the Russian-occupied south, reported AP.
August 24 is also Ukraine's Independence Day. It has been 31 years since the Ukrainians broke free from the Russia-dominated Soviet Union.