The offensive move on Kursk by the Ukrainian military is a small victory, but how have the people of Ukraine been affected?
Misha, a student in the eighth grade and a refugee from Ukraine, left his home in Lugansk after his mother woke at night to bombs going off in the distance. Those same bombs would later destroy their own home sometime later. The family left, knowing the war was getting closer. After leaving his home, Misha’s family stayed in Poland for one night and then went to the capital city of Warsaw. After scrounging up as much money as they could, they purchased a plane ticket to Amsterdam. After just a week in Amsterdam, they moved again–this time to Portugal, where they found a church in Porta City. Later Misha’s father got a job and they had an apartment, but they were forced to move again after inflation made it impossible to continue paying rent. Their last move brought them to America, where they decided to move to Mayfield for Misha’s education.
Misha’s journey to America was a long and difficult one, but he still faces many challenges here. Misha says that one of his main challenges is learning English. Paying attention in his classes is also very difficult because people can talk fast. He also feels as if some students talk about him behind his back, and he deals with bullying because of his nationality or his accent. Many like him face the same problems.
Misha represents just one of the 6.7 million people displaced by the conflict of the Ukraine-Russia war. This makes it “the largest population displacement crisis since World War II” according to the UNRIC.
The Ukraine-Russia War has caused much destruction to Ukraine and according to Penn Today. Putin attacked Ukraine because he views a democratic Ukraine as a threat to him and Russia, but Ukraine has gone on the offensive and is fighting to take back Kursk. According to AP News a Ukrainian military push into the Russian Kursk region has led Kyiv’s forces to take villages and hundreds of prisoners–forcing the evacuation of thousands of civilians. AP News also states that after a week of fighting, Russian troops are still struggling to push out Ukrainian forces. According to an article by Adam Givens and Gian Gentile from Rand, Ukraine’s push into southern Kurks was a bold and unexpected step in continuing the war. On the other hand, The Moscow Times says that the Russian army has recaptured ten villages, but they also state that Kyiv has said Ukraine took control of close to 100 villages.
According to Paul Kirby from BBC News, Ukraine now claims up to 500 square miles of Russian territory. After three weeks of fighting, Russia was still struggling to oust the Ukrainian forces, says the Associated Press, who also added that Russia has had a slow response to the first occupation of Russian territory since World War II.
The Russian-Ukraine war has caused many people to lose or displace their lives, but Ukraine still has hope; and taking Kursk is a step toward victory and peace for Ukraine and its people.
Here’s a bonus video of what Russia is doing to homes in Ukraine from Sky News
