Fifty days of war are completed today after Russian invasion of Ukrainewith Russian military forces focusing their strikes on the east.
The attack began in the early hours of February 24 with a series of rocket attacks and the use of long-range artillery, before quickly spreading to central and eastern Ukraine, as the Russian army attacked the country from three directions.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plan to overthrow Kyiv quickly failed due to strong Ukrainian resistance, failure to achieve air superiority, administrative and supply problems, and heavy personnel losses.
As Russian forces withdrew from areas near Kyiv to refocus on the east, the horror of the occupation became clear with reports of widespread civilian casualties and killings, torture, disappearances and other atrocities. Cities around Ukraine continue to be bombed, with Russia wreaking havoc.
After 50 days, the war enters a critical new stage:
The war is moving east: Putin has revised his original strategy and is now focusing on trying to take control of Donbass and other areas in eastern Ukraine. Moscow’s goal is to prevail in the region by early May, according to several US officials. Ukraine is preparing for a massive escalation, with warnings of a battle “reminiscent of World War II” mounting. Satellite images show an increasing number of Russian troops and armor coming into eastern Ukraine.
Soil change: In the east, Russia has far more advantages than in its previous offensive in northern Ukraine and its capital, Kyiv. The battle will take place in open ground and ravaged urban and wooded areas. The region also borders southwestern Russia, allowing Russian forces to avoid supply problems that derailed the invasion of the country almost from the beginning.
Need for weapons: The United States is stepping up its commitment to Ukraine – sending additional weapons and ammunition worth $ 800 million in a package that includes Mi-17 helicopters, Howitzer cannons, Switchblade drones, radar systems and protective equipment for possible chemical attacks. For weeks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been begging world leaders for more weapons and equipment.
Humanitarian disaster: Since the beginning of the invasion, more than 4.6 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries and thousands of civilians have lost their lives, including children, according to the UN. The World Health Organization has verified nearly 120 attacks on healthcare facilities since the invasion began. Those trapped in bombed-out cities say there is no food, water or medicine and no humanitarian aid is allowed to enter.
Charges of genocide, war crimes: US President Joe Biden described the atrocities in Ukraine as “genocide” for the first time this week. Ukraine’s attorney general is investigating 5,800 cases of Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the deliberate targeting of civilians. Pictures of at least 20 corpses scattered on the street in Bouka were taken around the world, while dozens of civilians were killed in a rocket attack on a train station. This was followed by bombings of hospitals, schools and a theater where hundreds of people, including children, took refuge.
NATO: Putin started the war by demanding an end to NATO’s expansion to the east. While Zelensky has accepted that his country will not join, the war has united the West against Moscow. At the same time, Finland and Sweden – nations that are officially military neutral – are moving closer and closer to joining the North Atlantic Alliance.
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