February 17th 2025.
As we continue to follow the progress of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, it becomes increasingly clear that this is a brutal undertaking. Blood is being shed like water as the frontlines are constantly shifting for mere meters of land. However, amidst this chaos, the bigger picture remains stark. Since 2014, Russia has gradually taken control of more and more Ukrainian territory, with little intervention from Western powers.
It all began with the illegal annexation of Crimea in March 2014, followed by the fall of parts of the eastern region of Donbas to Russian-backed separatists later that same year. Now, almost three years into the invasion, Russian forces hold a fifth of internationally recognized Ukrainian territory, including key cities in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. And as peace talks in Saudi Arabia approach, it seems unlikely that Putin will give up these battlefield gains.
To fully understand the gravity of the situation, let's take a look back at the events of the past three years and the land that Ukraine is hoping to regain as part of a deal brokered by the US. So, what did Ukraine look like in 2014? Up until that point, its borders had remained untouched since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. However, overnight, everything changed when Russia seized Crimea under the guise of protecting the rights of Russian citizens and speakers in the region.
As much as 10,400 square miles – strategically bordering the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov – were illegally annexed, and around 2.4 million people were absorbed into Russia. And it didn't stop there. Russian-backed separatists then took control of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk, sparking a war that resulted in even more Ukrainian territory being taken over and leaving millions displaced. By the time Putin launched his full-scale invasion in 2022, 7% of Ukrainian territory had already been lost.
The war officially began on February 24, 2022, as the first Russian tanks rolled into eastern Ukraine under the cover of darkness. Dozens of missiles rained down on cities all over the country, but Ukrainian forces put up a strong resistance, proving that – contrary to Putin's famous vow – Ukraine would not fall by the end of the week. While they failed to take over the capital city of Kyiv, Russian soldiers committed horrific war crimes just 20 miles outside the city in Bucha, where hundreds, if not thousands, of Ukrainian civilians were executed and buried in mass graves.
In the south, Russia devastated the city of Mariupol, relentlessly bombing it and besieging the Azovstal steel plant before ultimately taking control in May. In 2023, they shifted their focus to crippling Ukraine's energy infrastructure, leaving millions without electricity during the harsh eastern winter. Russian-backed mercenaries from the Wagner group were deployed to the frontlines to further expand their control.
Throughout 2024, Russia continued to make steady advances, while Ukraine struggled to defend itself with dwindling military aid. Western leaders debated what weapons should be allowed for use in the war, causing further delays and complications. As a result, Russian control over Ukrainian territory continued to grow.
If we look at a map of Ukraine before February 2014, the changes that have occurred in just a decade are staggering. Currently, Russia controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, with a third of that being annexed before the full-scale invasion began. In a bold move, Ukraine also took control of several thousand square miles of Russian land in the border region of Kursk in 2024, potentially for use in future negotiations for peace.
But the impact of this conflict goes far beyond just territorial gains and losses. Within Ukraine, 3.6 million people have been displaced, and another 6.5 million have fled to other countries. Shockingly, 90% of these refugees are women and children, and 59% of internally displaced persons are women. The conflict has also resulted in at least 74% of Ukrainians being separated from a close family member due to the violence and upheaval.
As we continue to track the progress of this war, it is clear that the toll it has taken on Ukraine and its people is immeasurable. And as the upcoming peace talks approach, there is no telling what the future holds for this war-torn country.
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