The Russo-Ukrainian war has been an ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine since February of 2014. Recently, the conflict between the two countries escalated to a full scale with the invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, 2022. 

Prior to the invasion, there were some indicators in 2021 and early 2022 that Russia was putting together a military build up around Ukraine’s borders. NATO openly accused Russia of planning an invasion which Russia denied. In addition, Russian President Vlaaldimir Putin, kept criticizing NATO and demanded Ukraine be forbidden from ever joining the military alliance. 

World leaders and people in interest have condemned and have shown direct opposition toare against Russia for its actions against the democratic country of Ukraine. Russia has been accused of breaking international law and violating Ukrainian sovereignty. After seeing Russia go through with the invasion, many countries in the west, including the United States and all its allies implemented many economic sanctions against the Russian government, citizens, and companies. However, tThose sanctions did not stop the Russian army from continuing their invasion into Ukrainian territory which forced the Ukrainian citizens to go into for their own military defense. 

Since the invasion, allied countries have supplied fire arms to Ukraine instead of sending out U.S. troops to aid the country to fight against Russia. Millions of Ukrainian citizens have fled the country and have become refugees in other border countries close by. However, many citizens have decided to stay put and defend their country as volunteers against the Russian invasion. 

The Ukrainian people choose to stay to defend and protect their identity, their community, and their national culture against Russian oppression, because under Russian control, they could very soon lose it all.