Ukraine-Russia War: Zelenskyy warns of WW III and 10 big updates
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Since then the war has been going on. Hundreds of civilians in Ukraine including children have been killed, wounded, rendered homeless and even stateless due to the war. Soldiers on both the sides have been killed. Despite all this blood shedding, the war is yet to conclude and the end remains unknown.
Here are the 10 big updates on the state of war so far:
1. OVER 900 CIVILIANS KILLED
Are you a refugee from Ukraine? Or do you know someone who is? UNHCR can help. Visit the page for the country you are in. https://t.co/ZQ79kYOvnH pic.twitter.com/BlSfvfc1j0
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) March 20, 2022
According to the UN, at least 902 civilians in Ukraine have been killed in the war as of March 19, 2022. And 1,459 people have been wounded in the war. However, the death toll is estimated to be much higher, but it has been difficult for the UN monitoring team to assess the casualties due to the ongoing war. In cities like Mariupol, where fighting and shelling has been intense, the damage is reportedly massive.
Recently, Ukraine reported that Russian military bombed a theatre in Mariupol where over 1,000 people were taking shelter. At least 130 people were rescued from the rubble but many more remain trapped. Ukraine also accused Russia of shelling an art school in Mariupol where some 400 people including children were sheltering.
Also, over 10 million (1 crore) people have fled their homes due to the war so far. Around 3.3 million have made it to other countries as refugees. There are also accusations against Russia for forcefully deporting Ukrainians to Russia and confiscating their Ukrainian passports.
2. THE FIGHT FOR MARIUPOL
Mariupol is now a ghost city – 80% of its infrastructure is damaged or destroyed, 40% of which cannot be rebuilt, authorities say. One of the largest in the country, a beautiful, developed city razed to the ground.
— Anastasiia Lapatina (@lapatina_) March 20, 2022
Russia offered a deal to Ukraine on Mariupol saying that if the latter laid down its arms, removed its troops from the strategic port city, it will allow the civilians trapped in the city to escape. However, Ukraine refused to surrender, saying that they will fight to the last soldier. According to reports, some 300,000 people remain stuck in Mariupol with supplies and aid running out and coming under intense and indiscriminate shelling.
The port city on the Sea of Azov is an important target for Moscow. Seizing this city would help them build a land corridor between the east Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which is controlled by pro-Russia separatists and Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. The city has witnessed one of the most intense fighting during the war in all of the country however Russians have not been able to take it from Ukrainian forces so far.
The deadline for Ukraine to accept Russia’s offer has already passed.
3. RUSSIA SHIFTING TO PLAN-B
According to a Wall Street Journal report, US intelligence believes that Putin has changed his strategy in Ukraine. Instead of plan-A to take the capital Kyiv and overthrow its government, Russia has shifted to plan-B, which is to hold on to the southeastern regions.
Russia plans to seize key territorial regions to gain leverage during negotiations and make Ukraine agree to be a neutral state between Russia and the West.
Earlier, the US intelligence had expected Russia to take the capital city within days of invasion and replace the Zelenskyy led government with its own puppet choice leader. But that has not come to pass yet in the face of stout Ukrainian resistance.
4. ARE KYIV AND MOSCOW ON THE CRISP OF AGREEMENT?
DEVELOPING via Reuters: Turkey's Foreign Minister says Russia and Ukraine are nearing agreement on critical issues. He believes a ceasefire could be soon.From where I sit in Ukraine, that's exactly what's needed - NOW.
— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) March 20, 2022
Turkey on Sunday, March 20, 2022, said it was ready to host a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in their country for talks and added that they are ready to play the moderator. The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also said that the two sides have made progress in the negotiations and are close to an agreement.
On March 10, 2022, Foreign Ministers of Russia and Ukraine had met in Turkey for negotiations.
5. THE DEMAND FOR A NEUTRAL STATE
Russia has claimed that there has been progress on one of the demands during negotiations – that Ukraine become a neutral state. Moscow said that a deal to make Ukraine a neutral state on the lines of Sweden or Austria was discussed. However, Ukraine seems to have rejected the demands, instead seeking security guarantees from the international community, short of seeking membership with the NATO.
Russia does not want Ukraine to become a part of NATO, its major demand that led to the invasion.
6. ZELENSKYY WARNS OF WORLD WAR III
?President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy:We will win.There will be new cities.There will be new dreams.There will be a new story.There will be, there’s no doubt.And those we've lost will be remembered.And we will sing again, and we will celebrate anew. ?? pic.twitter.com/Oll5ZCfuxd
— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 20, 2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that if talks with Putin fail, then the war would spiral into World War III. He said that he had been ready for talks for the last two years and he is ready now for talks in any format.
When Russian forces bombed an Ukrainian military base near NATO member Poland border which was housing foreign aid workers and other instructors, the war came too close to NATO.
7. BIDEN TO VISIT POLAND
US President Joe Biden is set to visit Warsaw, Poland on Friday, March 25, 2022 after the NATO summit to discuss Ukraine situation. Reports earlier had suggested US was likely to send ‘peacekeeping’ forces to Ukraine, however, US envoy to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told CNN that the Biden administration is unlikely to send American boots on the ground to Ukraine.
On the other hand, Biden has promised to indirectly help Ukraine, while also trying to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia by sending military aid.
On the other hand, Slovakia, a NATO country, had said that it is ready to supply Ukraine with Soviet-made S-300 anti-aircraft system but only if it receives a replacement. In response, US-made patriot air defence system were already on their way to Slovakia and the country has started its deployment.
8. INDIAN STUDENT’S BODY ARRIVES IN KARNATAKA
Mortal remains of Naveen Shekharappa Gyangoudar, who was killed in a shelling attack in #Ukraine️ on March 1st, arrives Bengaluru Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai pays last respects to MBBS student Naveen pic.twitter.com/mzfmlnnrEK
— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2022
The mortal remains of Indian medical student Naveen Shekharappa, who was killed in shelling in Ukraine’s Kharkiv, arrived at Bengaluru airport on March 21, 2022. Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai received his body at the airport. According to reports, Naveen’s family has decided to donate his body to a medical school.
9. CHINA’S STANCE
China has been caught in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, not wanting to rebuff its close ties with Moscow but also fearing Western sanctions. Ukraine also called on Beijing to join the West in condemning Russia’s actions.
10. AUSTRALIA ON INDIA’S STANCE
India has been reluctant to condemn Moscow’s actions in Ukraine so far. On the other hand, the Quad leaders held talks online on March 3, 2022, to discuss the Ukraine situation. Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida also recently visited India and met PM Modi, Ukraine was one of the topics of discussions.
Australia on Sunday said that the Quad has accepted India’s position on the Ukraine-Russia issue. Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell said that PM Modi used his contacts to call for an end of the war and conflict.