More than a year has passed since Russia initiated the major invasion of Ukraine. Although the war between the countries began in 2014, tensions escalated in 2022 due to the initial attack. In 2022, the media started to focus on the happenings of the war, and more of the global population became aware of the conflict.
On February 24, 2022, the infamous invasion occurred. Russia centered its attack on the capital, Kyiv, and the second-largest city, Kharkiv. Explosions and gunfire were heard throughout the country, with Russia periodically dropping missiles in secluded Ukrainian towns. One source claims the death toll on the first day was as high as 137 people. Some thought that Ukraine would have surrendered instantly, but after weeks of fighting, it was clear that Ukraine would refuse to be oppressed by the Russians.
To stay in Ukraine and still be safe is almost impossible. Bombings in the country damaged utilities like pipes and electric lines, and clean drinking water was rare. Abundant resources became scarce. For many, there was no choice but to leave home.
It’s predicted that 82,000 people fled Ukraine on that first day. Twelve days later, that number rose to 2 million, and after a few more weeks, the total increased again, reaching 4 million.
The countries that initially received the most refugees were Russia, Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. It may seem surprising that Russia is on this list, especially since the country is Ukraine’s enemy. Still, according to the most recent available data, at least 2.9 million Ukrainians have gone there. It’s theorized that most of these refugees weren’t aware this would be their end destination since 900,000 were forcibly relocated to the country.
Unfortunately, it’s believed that 6,000 of these Ukrainians were unaccompanied children unsuspectingly taken by Russia and its forces. In Russia, 43 camps were made for these children, 11 of which are more than 500 miles away from the Ukraine-Russia border.
As of March 2023, at least 16 million Ukrainian refugees have been displaced. More than 8 million refugees that fled Ukraine traveled elsewhere in Europe. The other 8 million are displaced within the country. Before the war, there were 41 million Ukraine citizens, but this number has significantly decreased because more citizens are leaving than returning.
Not every Ukrainian has the opportunity to escape the war-stricken country. Most Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are banned from leaving the country. These men cannot flee the war with their families, regardless of if they are eligible to serve in the military. Many have fought against this restriction, making points such as “untrained men can’t fight effectively” and “civilian men should not be separated from their families,” but this rule is unrelenting.
Although the refugee crisis has many problems attached to it, not every moment has been negative. Ukrainians about to cross the border out of their country celebrate the few steps farther from conflict than dwelling on why they’re there.
At these transitional camps, Ukrainians can find essential items for hygiene they may have been unable to require while traveling to the outskirts of Ukraine. Supplies such as shampoos, soaps and feminine products are some of the refugees’ most desperate needs.
News of the war has become less mainstream than in its first months, but millions of Ukrainians and Russians are still impacted by the conflict each day. If you or someone you know would like to sponsor an individual from Ukraine, check out ukraine.welcome.us. If you would like to provide aid to refugees more straightforwardly, view the article “How To Donate To Ukraine Relief Efforts” on Forbes to find ways to help.
