Explainer: What’s happening with Ukraine and Russia
Explainer: What's happening with Ukraine and Russia
What’s happening?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shocked Europe and the rest of the world.
On the 24th of February, Russian forces were deployed into Ukraine.
Russian forces have attacked major cities within the country including the capital Kyiv.
With Bombing and shelling continuing to escalate within the country.
Public infrastructure has also been destroyed within the bombing, leaving thousands of Ukrainians without adequate water or electricity and isolating them from shops to buy basic necessities such as food and medication.
So far, around 1,209,976 refuges have fled the country and hundreds of thousands have been displaced within Ukraine.
Why is this conflict going on?
Ukraine officially declared itself as an independent country in 1991 due to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.
Since then, Ukraine have been gaining a closer relationship to the EU and NATO.
This to Russia seems to be an economic and strategical threat to its security.
In 2014, Russia took control of the Crimean Peninsula and started to back pro-Russian separatists in certain parts of eastern Ukraine that want to separate from the country.
How can we help?
The Disasters Emergency Committee have launched a Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal helping to raise funds for food, medicine, water, protection and trauma care for people fleeing war.
The Disasters Emergency Committee bring together 15 of the leading UK charities such as the British Red Cross and Save the Children UK to raise funds quickly.
Fly Live stands with Ukraine in this conflict with Russia.
Feature Image: Unsplash
