Facing a Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine
As violence escalates between Ukrainian and Russian armies, the crisis on the ground deepens.
Preparing resources and troops, on February 24th, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, one of the largest breaches of territory by a foreign country since World War II. As hostilities increased, the Ukrainian people took it upon themselves to defend their country against the onward march of the Russian Army.
A map outlining the advance of Russian forces into Ukraine.
While political and diplomatic issues create a growing, complex web of disorder and chaos as the violence escalates, at the core remain the civilians and troops on the front lines. The invasion has now entered into its second month, as the Ukrainian people continue to show unwavering resilience and dramatic hope in the face of relentless assault.
A child sleeps while taking cover in a bomb shelter.
Casualties:
United Nations reports that about 1,035 Ukrainian civilians have died and at least 1,650 have been injured, though it’s possible that the overall numbers are much higher. The U.S. military estimates that between 2,000 to 4,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed.
Refugee Crisis:
According to the UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, nearly 4 million refugees have fled from Ukraine, with about 2.2 million civilians arriving in Poland, and nearly 600,000 moving into Romania. In the besieged city of Mariupol, thousands of residents were forcibly taken to remote Russian cities by Russian troops.
After meeting with NATO allies in Poland during an emergency summit on March 25th, President Biden declared that the United States will accept 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.
Refugees fleeing Ukraine.
Most Impacted Cities:
The port city of Mariupol, home to about 400,000 people, has been under siege for more than three weeks as Russian troops continue to bombard buildings with shelling and missiles from the east and west. Recently, an estimated 300 civilians were killed on March 16th when a Russian plane bombed a drama theater sheltering about 900 people. The Kremlin continues to deny all allegations. The despair of its residents and the devastating reality of war are evoked as one Ukrainian heartbreakingly wrote:
“God has left Mariupol.”
Drama building that was bombed in Mariupol, killing an estimated 300 people.
Kharkiv, the second-largest city, continues to remain in Ukrainian hands after three weeks of intense fighting. Its residents remain without much portable water or electricity, trapped within as constant shelling continues to rage around them. Located near the Russian-Ukrainian border, as Russian forces fail to conquer the city, they instead condemn it to constant airstrikes and artillery attacks, having killed more than 500 civilians thus far.
Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, also remains under Ukrainian control after more than a month of intensive attempts by Russian troops to take over the city. Mistakenly believing to assume control within a few days, Vladimir Putin has now shifted the focus to “liberating” the eastern Donbas region. While there are no signs of a ceasefire, Russian troops have moved into a defensive position around the city. About an estimated 230 people, including 4 children, have been killed in Kyiv.
As the invasion continues, the strength of the Ukrainian people continues to persist. To help with relief efforts, visit Ukrainian-Russian Crisis: Charity Navigator for a list of verified organizations working in Ukraine right now.