Image courtesy of Petko Ivanov.
Russia has invaded Ukraine. How did we get here and what happens now? In April of 2021, 100,000 Russian troops were sent to line the Ukrainian border for what was allegedly described as a “military exercise,” with the caveat that Russia would withdraw those troops at the end of the month. Sensing an imminent threat towards its sovereignty, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky met with President Biden in an effort to fast track its membership status in NATO (The North Atlantic Treaty Organization), an intergovernmental organization consisting of 26 European countries and 2 North American countries. In August, President Biden reiterated the United States’ commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of potential Russian aggression, however, he stated that Ukraine did not meet the requisite requirements for NATO membership.
In November, Russia renewed its troop presence by the Ukrainian border, warning nations, such as the United States, of Russia’s capability to invade the country if that was its desire. In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined a set of demands that if fulfilled, would effectively prohibit Ukraine from gaining NATO membership while also forcing NATO troops to withdraw from Ukraine’s neighboring countries, leaving it vulnerable to attack. Diplomatic efforts were launched by the United States, Russia, and various European countries to avoid potential catastrophe.
There are two dynamics to pay attention to: Russia making demands to prepare Ukraine for invasion, with the threat that if these demands were not met, they would invade Ukraine, and the second, the United States and its NATO allies refusing to give in to Russia’s demands. With Russia signaling a desire to cut off Ukraine from any potential support from NATO or its allies to prepare for an invasion, and with the United States and European allies’ reluctance to give in to those demands, Ukraine saw itself on the brink of war by January’s end.
This brings us to more recent events. On Feb. 21, President Putin officially acknowledged and recognized the two breakaway republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in Ukraine’s Donbas region, officially designating them as the Luhansk People’s Republic and Donetsk People’s Republic. On Feb. 24, Putin introduced his plan to invade Ukraine, and not long after, the Russian invasion commenced.
In response to the Russian invasion, Conn held a teach-in event in Blaustein, helmed by Professors Petko Ivanov, Eileen Kane, Eric Fleury, David Patton & Laura Little. In a packed Ernst Common Room, the professors discussed the context for the Russo-Ukrainian War and stayed for a Q&A session afterward.
Professor Little began, greeting the room and quickly emphasizing how the majority of Russian people do not respect nor support the current military occupation before handing the mic off to Professor Ivanov. Ivanov spoke on Putin’s meeting with his security council on Feb. 21, where Putin delivered an hour-long speech regarding his grievances with NATO and reiterating his stance that Ukraine was not a sovereign nation. At 5:50 am, Feb. 24, Putin announced an outline for invasion, highlighting two key concepts:
- Destroy Ukraine’s military infrastructure
- Take down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government, who Putin deems as “Nazis” and “drug users.”
Putin has also issued a number of allusions and veiled threats towards his use of nuclear weaponry, exacerbated by Russia’s military taking control of the abandoned Chernobyl nuclear plant, site of the infamous 1986 disaster and meltdown.
Aside from the fact that President Zelenskyy is actually Jewish, Professor Kane wanted to clarify that Putin’s comparisons of Ukraine to the Nazi regime were baseless and “made up.” Kane further refuted Putin’s claim of a historical precedent for invasion, as if this war was akin to Russia’s efforts against Hitler in the 1940s, by citing Putin as the real aggressor: “This is not about history, this is not a historical problem – this is about violence and land.”
Professor Fleury echoed much of this sentiment with an impassioned speech, emphasizing the complications of the situation, and how many feel about it, stating “we want to understand this issue, but we are also mad about it,” and “war is a tragedy, even when you win.” Commenting on Putin himself, Fleury quoted Tolstoy, saying “the king is the servant of history,” and Putin and his legacy would bear the mark of this maneuver: “He is not a chess master. He is a coward.”
Professor Patton spoke on the U.S and President Biden’s response to the invasion, with Biden announcing personal sanctions on Putin and Russia’s wealthier oligarchs, referring to the President’s response as “quite unusual.” Biden’s response has been criticized as too little considering Putin’s goals are stopping NATO’s expansion and possibly calling for regime change in Ukraine entirely.
The event also featured Conn student Olha Vasyliv ‘23, a resident of Kyiv, zooming in from Paris to share her thoughts. Sporting the Ukrainian flag on her cheek, Vasyliv spoke on a phone call she made to her family once she had heard the news of the invasion, and how waiting for a call back was “the worst and longest ten minutes of my life.” She further commented on the lack of response from international leadership, citing that “the United Nations has done zero to support Ukraine as of now,” and that her parents “feel abandoned.”
Vasilyv expressed worry over the conditions of her homeland, saying “this hybrid war is working, even on those who are not there” and that everyone still in Ukraine is encouraged to take up armed resistance. This being said, Vasyliv still commended her country’s resilience despite the worsening conditions: “My president and the entire country is doing a tremendous job.”
As of now, Ukrainian resistance is inarguably high. Days ago, Ukrainian soldiers on Snake Island, told to surrender by a Russian warship, responded “Russian Warship… go f**k yourself” before being killed. President Zelensky has refused to flee from the invaded territory, stating “I need ammunition, not a ride.”
The question still stands for many of us, however, including at Connecticut College, what can we do? In response to the flood of support she has received, Vasyliv has thanked everyone for their kind words and offers, but now urges people to do more: “Consider donating. Consider calling your local representative – If there is anything that you want to retain from today, please call local representatives to preserve Ukrainian democracy”
Vasyliv’s Instagram, @olha_vslv, contains a link to many different resources to support Ukraine including ways to donate directly and indirectly to the Ukrainian Army, links to contact your political representatives, and ways to organize rallies for Ukrainian democracy.
