World marks grim anniversary: 4 years since Russia invaded Ukraine скачать в хорошем качестве

World marks grim anniversary: 4 years since Russia invaded Ukraine

It was a war many predicted would only last a week or two, with Russia expected to conquer Ukraine and retake control of the country. The invasion occurred 17 years after President Vladimir Putin called the collapse of the Soviet Union “the greatest geopolitical disaster of the century," and eight years after Russia’s invasion and occupation of Crimea. Instead, it’s lasted four years, with this plea coming from Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy: “Please continue to defend the European way of life. Please support Ukraine. Please support our diplomacy for peace and be effective. Every result you achieve is a line that Putin cannot cross." Among the 1.8 casualties (killed, wounded and missing), as many as 325,000 Russians and 140,000 Ukrainians have been killed, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Attacks and power outages continue in the midst of a brutal and bitter winter, as Russia appears nowhere close to backing down. Initially, the United States and Europe pledged unwavering support, with money, weapons and a sanctions strategy targeting Russian oil. But with China and India picking up the slack, Russia is reportedly exporting more oil today than it was when the war began.