Updates on the Ukrainian War

@google images

aBy: Angela, Rohan, and Lauren

It has been eight months since Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. As the war continues, here's a look ahead and a roundup of key developments from the past week:

• Recently, Russia claimed that Ukraine was planning to launch a “dirty bomb.” A dirty bomb is designed to disperse radioactive material over a certain area. However, Ukraine and its allies, the United States, England, and France, dismissed these accusations. They countered that this is only a “scare tactic” that escalates the war and makes Ukraine look like the “bad guys.” Russia asked the UN national watchdog to check Ukraine’s nuclear industry to ensure there is no preparation for a “dirty bomb.” The International Atomic Energy Agency, which visited the site months ago, declared that “no undeclared nuclear activities or material were found there.”

• According to Britain’s Defense Ministry, Russia has lost over a quarter of its fleet of attack helicopters in the war. At least 23 of Russia’s attack helicopters have been destroyed in Ukraine since they launched their attack. Attack helicopters “provide close support for troops in combat.” Britain’s Defense Ministry stated, “Russia is still failing to maintain adequate air superiority” in Ukraine.

• Belarus, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a population of 9 million, started housing Russian troops, prompting fears that the two countries will join and invade Ukraine’s northern border together. Ukraine’s military tells the Belarus government, “Your leadership is planning to drag the Belarusian people into a dirty war, to stain them with blood and death.” and “If the Belarusian army supports Russian aggression, we will respond…with our entire arsenal of weapons.”

• Under pressure from Western investors and consumers, well-known companies have started to close stores and pause their sales in Russia. For example, Adidas said they would suspend sales in Russia, H&M is shutting their business in Russia altogether, and PepsiCo will stop selling their soda in Russia. Other popular companies stopping their business in Russia include Starbucks, Netflix, Visa, and the Walt Disney company paused the release of movies in that area.