After 2 months, the war between Russia and Ukraine still shows no sign of ending soon

People in the Ukrainian city of Irpin evacuate to avoid fighting in March 2022 – Photo: AFP

Youth Online Review some key milestones in 2 months of war:

February 24Russia sent troops to Ukraine from three directions, officially starting the biggest war in Europe since World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the “special military operation” was aimed at “demilitarizing” and “de-fascistizing” Ukraine.

The first meeting between the two countries took place on 28-2 in Belarus but there was no breakthrough. The Russian Defense Ministry claims to have complete control over Ukraine’s airspace. The West says Ukrainian forces resisted fiercely while Russia encountered logistical problems.

Day 2-3Russian forces attacked the port city of Mariupol in southern Ukraine and claimed to have captured the urban center of the Black Sea port city of Kherson.

March 4Russian forces occupied Europe’s largest nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) rejected Ukraine’s call for a no-fly zone, fearing it would escalate the conflict.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as of April 8more than 2 million people have left Ukraine.

Many buildings in an area north of the capital Kiev, Ukraine were destroyed on April 20 – Photo: AFP

Day 13-3, Russia expanded its campaign deep into western Ukraine, firing missiles at a base in Yavoriv near the border with Poland – a NATO member. Local authorities said the attack left 35 people dead and 134 injured.

The two sides conduct the fourth round of negotiations from March 14 to 17. The 5th round of negotiations takes place March 21st.

Day 3-4, Ukraine accused Russia of war crimes after many civilian bodies were discovered in the town of Bucha. The Kremlin denied the allegations and criticized the images as staged.

Day 6-4the US Pentagon said that Russia has complete withdrawal of forces from the Kiev capital area and the northern city of Chernihiv to prepare to gather for the front in eastern Ukraine.

Day 14-4, Russia’s flagship Moskva in the Black Sea sunk. Ukraine and the United States said the ship was hit by a missile from Kiev, while Russia said it sank due to an explosion in an ammunition depot.

Map of regions in Ukraine as of April 23, in which red zones are controlled by Russia – Source: Al Jazeera

Day 18-4Russia launched an attack on eastern Ukraine with the goal of controlling the Donbass region.

Victory in this area will mark a turning point for Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said: April 20 More than 5 million Ukrainians have been displaced abroad.

Day 21-4Russia claims to have “liberated” Mariupol, but will not attack the Azovstal steel plant – the last stronghold of Ukraine’s defenses at Mariupol – because it is “unrealistic”.

Instead, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to continue besieging the factory so that “not a single fly gets through”, according to Sputnik News and AFP news agency.