Introduction
The Russia-Ukrainian war sparked global tension back in 2014 after the Ukrainian revolution to restore its dignity and establish a nation that is free from external influences. However, Russia’s President waged a full-scale invasion into the neighboring nation earlier this year, by ordering massive attacks on civilian settlements, military bases, and government establishments (Hookway & Trofimov, 2022). Thus, this essay argues that the military attacks currently being executed in Ukraine are unjustified because Ukraine is a less powerful nation than Russia, meaning that it can hardly defend itself. Additionally, the attacks are against moral human values as several civilians have been killed in the bombings or executed by Russia’s military. Moreover, the war has interfered with the global economy and the stability of Europe as Russia’s President has threatened any nation that tries to interfere with his plans and deter his ambitions.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is unjustified because Ukraine is a less powerful nation than its aggressor. Thus, it does not have the resources to sustain itself and defend its civilians against Russia. Currently, Ukraine is experiencing financial and humanitarian as all processes in the nation are at a standstill. Since the invasion, the living status of individuals in Russia has deteriorated as most of them have been forced to flee from their residents (Elsherbiny, 2022). The Wall Street Journal reports that military attacks on cities and town centers have left more than four million people homeless, forcing them to seek shelter in the neighboring countries as refugees (Hookway & Trofimov, 2022). Subsequently, no one in Ukraine is safe, especially the top government officials because Russia perceives them as their main targets. In a public briefing, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, “Our enemy has chosen me as their number one target and my family number two, but we will not yield (Hookway & Trofimov, 2022).” In other words, Russia plans to invade Ukraine until it overthrows its government by executing the nation’s president and all members of the first family, regardless of the crisis. Consequently, the situation has escalated into a disaster as the country has become a wasteland.
Additionally, the attack on Ukraine is not justified because the military is killing innocent individuals, which goes against the principles of human co-existence. At first, Russian troops advanced toward Ukraine’s capital but did not interfere with settlement areas (Papanikos, 2022). Instead, they captured Ukrainian soldiers and set barriers around regions like Mariupol and Kreminna to prevent the movement of individuals in and out. The Russian army has changed its tactics as they are harming civilians, raping women, and executing innocent individuals (Hookway & Trofimov, 2022). Over the past few weeks, the Human Rights Watch has reported several cases of the Russian military going against war laws. According to the reports, “there have been several continuous attacks on civilians living in Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Kyiv” (Bhuiyan et al., 2022). However, the latest news received from the region is heartbreaking as Ukrainian officials have shared information about catastrophic events at Mariupol. After weeks of being bombarded, satellite images showed mass graves, estimated to accommodate close to 9000 individuals from a nearby village (NBC News, 2022). Thus, atrocities being carried out by the Russian President and his military are uncalled for and against basic human rights.
The Russian Ukrainian conflict has interfered with the political stability of countries in Europe and the world since the Russian President has threatened any nation that tries to interfere with his initiatives. Several powerful leaders all over the globe have urged the Russian President to withdraw his troops from Ukraine and resolve their conflicts using democratic means (Lava et al., 2022). Additionally, they have offered assistance in several ways, including providing food supplies, medicines, and resources to allow individuals to survive. However, the pressure keeps building on neighboring nations and powerful countries like the US since they have neglected the issue for a long time as Russian military keep slaughtering innocent Ukrainian citizens. A majority of individuals believe that the war against Ukraine is wrong while others associate it with genocide (Rosenberg & Santora, 2022). However, many people hold that the US government and President Biden have not done enough to help Ukrainians protect themselves. Recently, President Biden announced that “the US government will spend about $1.3 billion worth of military aid to Ukraine” (Rosenberg & Santora, 2022, April 22). Unfortunately, though beneficial, this equipment cannot alleviate the suffering of individuals in the war zone.
Counterargument
Some individuals suggest that Russia should continue its invasion and take control of Ukraine because it has an unstable political environment, characterized by waves of violence. Although members of the NATO alliance have condemned its move against Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has supporters since some extremists suggest that the war can result in some benefits (Lava et al., 2022). For example, the leader of Belarus, which borders Ukraine and Russia to the Eastern side, supports this invasion citing that “Ukraine is a nation that inhibits the region’s development”. When President Vladimir Putin launched his attack on Ukraine, he suggested that he aimed to drive the Nazis out of Ukraine and reduce violence in the country since it posed a threat to Russia’s development and its existence. However, he has done the exact opposite as he has pushed people out of their homes, destabilized the Ukrainian government, and facilitated the inhuman execution of thousands of individuals living in Ukraine (Elsherbiny, 2022). Moreover, these attacks have contributed to political instability that risks the positive development of future generations. Nonetheless, most individuals believe that the US and others should stand up against Ukraine to fight for human rights and global democracy.
Conclusion
Although the President of Ukraine and his supporters in Belarus claim that the war is necessary due to the increased Nazi influence in Ukraine, thus posing risks to their development, their allegations cannot be substantiated. However, there are several media resources shedding light on the events happening in Ukraine. According to these resources, Ukrainians are suffering because their living conditions continue deteriorating. In addition to their plight, they lack the resources to defend themselves and their property from destruction. Moreover, the war has disrupted several activities in Europe that affecting the continent economically and politically due to increased instability. Lastly, Ukraine is a small country that cannot threaten the existence of Russia. Hence, the military attacks on Ukraine and the ongoing war are unjustified, because it has facilitated unnecessary suffering. As a result, powerful nations like the US should not just sit on the fence as they watch events unfold. Instead, they should equip Ukrainians with advanced weapons to drive out Russians or collectively send their troops to deal with the issue once and for all.
References
Bhuiyan, J., Walters, J., Chao-Fong, L., Belam, M., Lock, S., Bhuiyan, J., Walters, J., Chao-Fong,
L., Belam, M., & Lock, S. (2022). Russia-Ukraine war latest: Russia still bombing Azovstal steelworks, Ukraine says; UN secretary general to meet Putin â live. The Guardian. Web.
Elsherbiny, A. (2022). Europe on Fire: the Russo-Ukrainian War, Its Causes and Consequences. Its Causes and Consequences.
Hookway, J., & Trofimov, Y. (2022). What Is Happening in Ukraine and Why Is Russia Invading? WSJ. Web.
Lava, S. A., de Luca, D., Milani, G. P., Leroy, P., Ritz, N., & de Winter, P. (2022). Please stop the Russian-Ukrainian war–children will be more than grateful. European Journal of Pediatrics, 1-3.
NBC News. (2022). Up to 9,000 feared to be in mass grave near Mariupol. Web.
Papanikos, G. T. (2022). The Greek Newspaper Coverage of the Ukrainian War: The Pre-Invasion Phase and the Day of the Invasion. Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications.
Rosenberg, M., & Santora, M. (2022). Latest Mariupol and Ukraine-Russia War News: Live Updates. The New York Times. Web.