Ukraine

When you can feel other people’s pain, it means you can do more than you can, it means you can solve those problems. It is so symbolic that the whole world surrounded Ukraine against Russia recently. It is good to always remember Martin Luther King’s words – “ The ultimate measure of a person is not where one stands in moments of comfort and convenience. But where one stands in times of challenge and controversy.” 

What is happening in Ukraine and why should it matter for every one of us? Russia is bombarding major cities in Ukraine, more than a week into a war where Moscow has faced setbacks on the battlefield — yet seems undeterred from its campaign to take Ukraine. On March 4, Russia seized Zaporizhzhya, one of Europe’s largest nuclear power plants. Russian shelling of the southeastern Ukraine facility set off a fire, which Ukrainian officials warned could set off a nuclear disaster. It took hours, but the fire was extinguished, and international monitors said that they did not detect elevated radiation levels and that the fire did not damage “essential” equipment. US officials have said Russia now appears to be in control of the plant. But the incident was a reminder of how dangerous this war in Ukraine is becoming, and how uncertain and confusing things still are on the ground.  The Russian military has made advances in the south, and are gaining in the area of Kherson, a port city on the Black Sea whose control is reportedly contested, and Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov. Russian bombardment of these cities has resulted in humanitarian issues, with bridges and roads damaged by the fighting and dwindling access to food, clean water, medicine, and electricity in certain areas. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, experienced heavy Russian fire this week, and strikes have heavily damaged residential areas. The battle for Ukraine began in the early morning hours, local time, on February 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he called a “special military operation” into the country of about 40 million. He claimed the Russian military seeks “demilitarization and denazification” but not occupation; attacks shortly followed from multiple fronts and targeted toward multiple cities. That is a little story about how everything began, and how “World Unity”, (as I call it) started. The biggest companies, such as Amazon, Adidas, Mc, FedEx, Netflix, Starbucks, Coca cola and many others, left Russia. Literally everywhere in Europe, mostly in Asia and USA there are some Rallies to support them. People are collecting food and clothes, they are standing together! The war is awful but at the same time, it teaches people how important Unity is! It can happen everywhere one day, all houses that are destroyed now and someone’s cozy home, every person who is dying is someone’s parent, child, friend… Every building that is destroyed has a big history! War is not only about the country where it happens but about everyone. Amazing example is our country, which helps Ukraine as much as we can.  Our American History teacher Ms.Miller thinks that the situation in Ukraine could escalate quickly, which is why the US and NATO are being very deliberate and careful in their actions. She says: “ This is definitely an aggressive attack by Russia and very reminiscent of the Cold War and grab for territory and power.” In her opinion, this conflict can affect others if it does escalate to a full-blown war. For now, it has already affected some countries economically. America plays a big role in helping Ukraine. Ms.Miller thinks that if conflict escalates, so will our involvement but, for now our government is trying to avoid a direct war with Russia. She says: “ I do believe and support the ideals of democracy in countries other than our own and protecting ideals.” 

What is happening now in Ukraine should be everyone’s pain, because, when we talk about having a war in 21 century, it means that there is something wrong about the whole world and about human beings.