Image courtesy of Giovana Fleck.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has resulted in major loss of life and damage to cities and infrastructure, and the displacement of over 4 million refugees. The West has leveled unprecedented sanctions against Russia, where the government has cracked down on critics, shuttered independent media, and imposed draconian penalties on individuals who oppose the war.  

The Ukrainian resistance has confronted Russian aggression with unexpected force. The Russian military has demonstrated a lack of preparation and ineffective internal communication. Ukraine’s capital Kyiv remains under Ukrainian control. But Russian forces in the east and south have made strategic gains and completely destroyed the city of Mariupol in the process. The front line of this war changes on a daily basis. 

Diplomatically, Russia has become isolated, with even ally China keeping a certain distance. The large majority of UN members have condemned Russia’s actions, while NATO and the European Union are providing Ukraine with political and diplomatic support, military equipment, and humanitarian aid. 

The events in Ukraine are already having dramatic effects on the global economy, and there is concern that the conflict could spread regionally or globally, dragging NATO countries, other European states, China, Turkey, or Japan into the fray. 

Global Voices is covering the war with a special focus on consequences, both political and economic, in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe, while animating the lived experience of people in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. 

Reliable sources with frequent updates in English:

• The Kyiv-based English-language newspaper Kyiv Independent.
• The Riga-based independent russophone and anglophone media outlet Meduza.