제 13 호 Ukraine / Russia Conflict
Kicker : WORLD (UKRAINE/RUSSIA CONFLICT)
Ukraine / Russia Conflict
Something Big Is Hiding Around the Corner
Do-Hyuk Kim, Reporter
Recently, the skyrocketing international oil price has marked a big impact on South Korea’s petrol prices, and several analysts have pointed out that the fundamental reason for rising oil price is because of escalating threats between Ukraine and Russia. Russia called up a big number of their army along the Ukrainian border, which is an anomalous decision since they haven’t made military collision after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Why is Russia making such an act against Ukraine, and how is the Western world responding including Ukraine? Let’s make a deep dive into this bleak situation and its background to find out.
The atmosphere becoming strenuous between Ukraine and Russia began last November 11th. Putin decided to place some whopping ninety-two thousand soldiers near to the Ukraine border. This was an unusual movement from Russia, since Russia didn’t make any major military actions after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The biggest reason for Russia pulling out physical method without a glimpse of hesitation is mainly due to Putin’s eagerness to enlarge Russia’s power over East Europe, which naturally leads to putting Ukraine under Russian influence. Other nations in Eastern Europe were mostly out of Communism, making more friendly relationships with other European nations like the United Kingdom and France. Russia’s only left chance to remark themselves in Europe was Ukraine, and Ukraine, on the other hand, tried to jump into the bandwagon of capitalistic nations’ union. This led Putin into fury and desperateness, and Ukraine’s effort to join NATO constantly irritated Putin – finally making Russia to take genuine military action over Ukraine.
Countries of Western society immediately criticized Putin’s Russia, warning Putin to stop threatening Ukraine for justifying their greediness only. During last December, despite Americans and United Nations keep pushing Putin to stop giving threats to Ukraine, Russia increasingly placed their armies and weapons right in front of the Ukrainian border. End of 2021 had no improvements over this strain between Americans which support Ukraine and Russia. Beginning of 2022 revealed that Russia’s black-ops was currently undergoing, Putin trying to bribe Ukraine’s government officials while trying to persuade them to stand on Russia’s side. Feared that war outbreak might really happen, each nations told their embassies and citizens to leave Ukraine as soon as possible. Putin went to Beijing to bring support from Xi Jinping – leader of a nation that shares same ideology over economic and politic decisions – and agreed to announce that NATO should stop to constantly expand their political power. This meant Russia has no thoughts of stopping this crisis before Ukraine and Americans hiding behind surrenders to them. South Korea also announced the highest possible warnings among all territories of Ukraine, prohibiting all tourists visiting Ukraine from February 13th. Great Britain followed this decision and the United States finally pulled the plug of their embassy of Ukraine on February 12th. Britain estimated over hundred and fifty thousand Russian soldiers are staying around the Ukrainian border, which is a big leap from ninety-two thousand three months ago.
On February 22nd, Putin finally initiated an attack of Ukraine, and Russia officially showed off their covetousness to the entire world to take away Ukraine’s independence for swapping it into a Russian subordinate. Several intelligence agencies of Western nations warned of the high possibility of an attack over Ukraine within a few weeks during February as constant espionage of Russia on Ukrainian government officials told, but no one actually believed Russia would bring the war to Eastern Europe in the twenty-first century. Everyone was shocked how impudent Putin is, and is worrying this war could further spread into World War III. The president of United States Joe Biden immediately responded with strong messages calling for economic sanctions on the Russian government and banks. European nations also innitiated sanctions by Switzerland restricting Putin’s access to his own bank account created in Switzerland’s banks and United Kingdom freezing up Russian assets remaining in their country. South Korea decided to partially join this trend by banning Korean semiconductor products getting exported to Russia. Not only the government, but South Korean citizens are joining this move, too. Our record-breaking curling national team ‘Team Kim’ and entire teams belonging to Korean Curling Federation decided boycotting all of the upcoming match against Russian teams.
Despite Putin beginning the war being high-spirited, progress of the war is not going as well as he hoped. Ukrainians gathered for a battle to keep them and their families’ lives to keep on going. The current Ukrainian president and former one recorded a video showing them armed to fight against Russia, which made a tremendous effect on Ukrainian citizens to fight back Russia. Russian army recorded more deaths than the Ukrainian army did, which is astonishing since the Ukrainians have hardly any advanced weapons as the Russians have. Fighting for their lives and fighting just for their duty made a remarkable difference, and the wave of world citizens hoping for peace in Ukraine may steadily force Putin to pull his army away from Ukrainian territory.
Russia might be massively powerful and renowned as one of the strongest nations on earth, but even they can’t justify winning a flag in a war begun for no practical reasons. As everyone hopes, I wish this war between Ukraine and Russia can quickly come to a halt within a few days, and peace can be recovered. No more deceased people should be allowed in the 21st century via violence!
Sources :
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ukraine
https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/sports/sports_general/1033029.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60558048 (Picture)
