For much of the winter, the war in Ukraine settled into a slow-moving but exceedingly violent fight along a jagged 600-mile-long frontline in the southeast. Now, both Ukraine and Russia are poised to go on the offensive.
Russia, wary of the growing Ukrainian arsenal of Western-supplied weapons, is moving first.
Using tens of thousands of new conscripts in the hope of overwhelming Ukraine, its forces are attacking heavily fortified positions across bomb-scarred fields and through scorched forests in the East. They are looking for vulnerabilities, hoping to exploit gaps, and setting the stage for what Ukraine warns could be Moscow’s most ambitious campaign since the start of the war.
Ukraine must now defend against the Russian assault without exhausting the resources it needs to mount an offensive of its own.
Kyiv is training thousands of its own soldiers outside the country and scrambling to amass heavy weapons and ammunition, in advance of an assault meant…
2023-02-10 11:35:30 The Ukraine War’s Violent Next Stage
Post from www.nytimes.com
The Ukraine War continues to be a hot topic in the international media, as news of its intensifying violence increases. Recent months have seen a resurgence in episodes of fighting amongst the forces in Ukraine’s eastern region, despite calls from the United Nations and other international organizations to de-escalate hostilities.
The violence dates back more than five years. In 2014, Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in response to the so-called “Euromaidan Revolution,” a revolution which overthrew the then-president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovich. Although international condemnation was quick to follow, Russia has dug its heels in, maintaining their presence in what they refer to as “their own backyard.”
In the wake of this war, various rebel forces have held fast to their own positions in the east of Ukraine, fighting against Ukrainian government forces with the backing of the Russian government. This has resulted in a conflict characterized by exchanges of fire, as well as what the UN has termed “inhumane living conditions” and attacks on civilians.
The situation has recently shifted to a more dangerous phase. Last week, the Ukrainian forces managed to push back forces in a key stronghold, signaling a further escalation of the war. This is more concerning still in light of recent reports that the rebelling forces are receiving increased support from Russia, indicating that the situation could become even worse in the short-term.
As the violence continues, it can only be hoped that the international community can intervene to help find a lasting resolution to this war. Sanctions, such as those imposed by the United Nations, need to become more effective and be backed up by cross-border cooperation. It is also essential that external countries, such as Russia, cease providing support to the rebels and instead work to foster peace.
Without attention to the war in Ukraine, the situation is only set to spiral further out of control. In order to find a lasting resolution, international pressure must be applied and focus put on disarmament, diplomatic progress and peace.