After invading Ukraine in 2014, Russia has decided to invade even further. This back and forth conflict over Ukraine’s independence has been ongoing since 1991 when the country officially broke off from the Soviet Union. Even though Ukraine still holds its independence to this day, Russia’s relentless attempts to take over continue and worsen as of the start of 2022 and pose a threat to Ukrainian freedom and democracy. 

Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, officially declared war on Feb. 24. Several bombs were set off all around the border of Ukraine, including the western border, according to the BBC. Many Ukrainian cities are being attacked, including the country’s capital of Kyiv, military bases and some of the main airports.

Citizens are currently fleeing major cities and war zones in order to protect themselves and their families. Families are being split up and forced out, having to leave everything and everyone behind, according to The Guardian. 

These are not the only places being attacked, however. According to FOX 8, civilian homes and residential areas are being targeted as well, killing and injuring innocent people. According to iNews, a kindergarten and orphanage have both been struck by Russian bombs.

Over in Russia, civilians protesting against their own government are being arrested for voicing their opinion, according to CNN.

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has enlisted in the war voluntarily in order to fight for his country on the front lines. Zelenskiy and his family are Putin’s “number one target” to be captured, according to the Wall Street Journal.

According to UNHCR, over 14,000 Ukrainians have been killed and 1.5 million have been internally displaced due to the land annexation in 2014. Currently, more Ukrainians are being killed by the same government for the same reasons. At least 100,000 Russian troops have been deployed near Ukraine, according to the New York Times. Although the Biden administration and NATO have tried to diffuse the standoff, they failed. 

Russia has been re-attempting to invade Ukraine since nearly 1149 A.D. Ukraine has never posed a threat to Russia. Russia also put Ukraine through a genocide famine called Holodomor, killing millions in the 20th century, and also annexed and took control of Ukraine’s Crimea, according to UA Crisis Response. 

The U.S. has offered to aid Ukraine with a $1 billion loan in order to strengthen its economy, according to the State Department. The European Union also accepted Ukraine’s application on March 1. They desperately urge more help from both the U.S., NATO and its neighboring European countries as it defends its citizens and independent country. 

Despite Putin’s relentless attempts to take over Ukraine, the Ukrainian spirit remains stronger than ever. The Ukrainian people are committed to protecting their country’s freedom, even when fearing for their lives. 

 According to CNN, former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko says Russia will never take the country because Ukraine will never back down. 

“Everybody should understand: Putin declared a war not for Ukraine,” Poroshenko said. “Putin declared a war to the whole world. He’s just simply crazy. He’s just simply evil to come here to kill Ukrainian[s].”