As the invasion of Ukraine presses on, Russia is still firing missiles into Ukranian captiol city Kyiv. There has been an increase in fighting along the city’s outskirts. Currently a delegation of European leaders is headed to Kyiv to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan pressed Chinese officials over China’s siding with Russia during an intense, seven-hour meeting which included discussion of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia has been silencing their own citizens. The way Russia is currently conducting themselves has many around the world wondering if the invasion of Ukraine is in fact the start of World War 3.
Ukraine Invasion Causes Russian Protest
Most recently two civilian residents died in an attack on an apartment complex and dozens were taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski was killed covering the war in Ukraine. A woman in Russia ran onto the set of an evening news program holding a poster reading: “No war. Stop the war. Don’t believe propaganda. They lie to you here. Russians against war.” She yelled: “Stop the war, no to war” before the camera cut away. Russian state-run news agency TASS reported she had been arrested and investigators are considering bringing charges against her. Russia is not only hurting and killing civilians and members of the media, but they are silencing their own people.
Silencing the people of Russia is proving to be a difficult task. Russia seems to be closing its doors in an effort to hide the discourse within its own borders. Russian government officials have imposed sanctions on President Biden and other top U.S. officials, in a move aimed at restricting travel to Russia. The Kremlin’s latest round of travel restrictions includes 13 people, and the foreign ministry said the measures could be expanded. Almost 3 million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion, with more displaced within the country as cities are shelled. Silencing his people, closing his country off, and invading other nations makes Putin seem like a tyrant, warlord, or dictator rather than a president.
Ukraine Invasion Causes UK to Open Doors
During a video address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the House of Commons on Wednesday, British politicians applauded as Zelenskyy, dressed in army khakis, invoked Winston Churchill’s wartime rhetoric and urged the UK to increase its military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Now more than 100,000 people have opened their doors, homes, and arms to Ukrainian refugees just in the first 24 hours of a government scheme to bring refugees to the UK. The Foreign Office minister, James Cleverly, said “10,000 people every hour” were signing up. The website for registering in the scheme crashed for a short while because of the numbers offering help. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities tweeted: “Thanks to the generosity of the British public we’ve received over 100K expressions of interest from individuals and organisations so far in our Homes for Ukraine scheme.” Under the scheme, refugees would be allowed to live and work in the UK for up to three years and receive full and unrestricted access to benefits, healthcare, employment and other support.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said “In this time of uncertainty, we have a clear way forward: Help Ukraine defend itself. Support the Ukrainian people. Hold Russia accountable.” The UK and the United States will continue to support Ukraine through this crisis. Since the beginning of the Russia Ukraine crisis the United States says they have been dedicated to the people of Ukraine. According to white house officials, “The U.S. government is monitoring the situation closely, coordinating with other donors, assessing the evolving humanitarian needs of the people of Ukraine, and liaising with partners to ensure that they are able to rapidly scale up or adjust assistance should needs require.”
Written by: Erinn Malloy
