No One Sees Any Sign Of The Destruction In Ukraine Stopping
A Ukrainian soldier on the wreckage of a Russian tank. In a village in Kiev. Photo: theguardian
On the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the attack on Ukraine began on February 24. Europeans are witnessing the first direct war in this century. It will be six months of that war next Wednesday. Despite various initiatives from various levels, there are no signs of stopping the war.
Mykola (41), a Ukrainian soldier who experienced the six-month war, said, ‘This six-month war is not only a cause of great suffering for Ukraine. It is a source of sorrow for all of us.
The six-month war has caused great misery not only for Ukraine. It is a source of sorrow for all of us.
Mykola, Ukrainian Army
Doc (pseudonym), a 40-year-old doctor, works at the army hospital in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. He said, ‘This war has shed blood. Caused us to cry. An entire generation has destroyed history. Now we must prepare to continue the war for a long time.’
Artem, the deputy commander of a unit of the Ukrainian army, said the same thing. This 30-year-old army officer said, ‘We have informed our troops that this war can continue for years. Accordingly, they have been asked to prepare mentally.
At the start of the war, many predicted that Russian forces would quickly capture the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. The Kremlin also sent a large army towards Kiev. But in the end, Kiev did not fall. Russia is now focused on taking control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas, instead of Kiev. Recently, Russian forces have intensified their attacks in the southern part of the country. Ukrainian troops are also counter-attacking.
The situation is quite complicated. The prospects for peace in Ukraine are still unclear.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations
The situation in the southern city of Mykolaiv is very tense. War scars spread across the city. Russia launched a missile attack on the city’s administrative headquarters early in the war. 37 people were killed. Since then the city has been virtually reduced to ruins by repeated attacks and counter-attacks. Barriers made of sandbags still remain at checkpoints in the city.
Leonid Klimenko, rector of the local Petro Mohyla Black Sea State University, said, ‘They (Russian forces) have destroyed various facilities in the city, including schools, hospitals, ports. It is clear that they want to completely destroy the Ukrainian education system, the power of the Ukrainian people.’
But there has been some visible progress in the last six months. The two sides reached a historic agreement brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to resume grain exports from Ukraine. Grain from Ukraine is going to the international market. As a result of this, it is expected that the crisis of food and agricultural products around the world and increased prices will come down a lot.
Read more https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2022/06/vladimir-putins-speech-on-the-events-in-ukraine/
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres recently visited Ukraine to advance the implementation process of this agreement. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was with him. However, despite their visit, concern has spread over the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in the southern part of Ukraine. The nuclear power plant has been in Russia’s possession since early last March. But Ukrainian technicians are now operating it under Russian command.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at a press conference after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Photo: Reuters
Fighting continues near the center and Russian shelling has resulted in civilian casualties. Therefore, many analysts are afraid that the current situation in Zaporizhzhya may bring extreme danger to Ukraine and Europe. A Chernobyl-like nuclear disaster could occur. But Russian President Putin said a UN team would be allowed to visit the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
In this situation, Antonio Guterres is not able to hear the hope of ending the war. “The situation is very complicated,” he said while visiting Odessa, the southern port city of Ukraine. The prospect of peace in Ukraine is not yet clear.’ According to Guterres, ‘it is very difficult to find a sustainable way to build peace in a short period of time. But we must keep trying. Because peace is essential for a stable world.