/Sunflowers

On the morning of February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to begin a "special military operation" to "demilitarize and de-Nazify" the sovereign nation of Ukraine.

Why Ukraine? Russia and Ukraine are both Slavic countries, share the same orthodox religion and clergy. Many Ukrainians have relatives living in Russia, and many Russians have relatives living in Ukraine. Except for seventy years when both countries were member states in the USSR, they had developed distinct languages, as well as distinct histories and cultures.

Over 130,000 Ukrainians have died since this war began in February. Over 8 million Ukrainians have been displaced within Ukraine or in neighboring countries. Over 200,000 Russian troops have been killed, 1,400 officers and countless numbers have been captured by the Ukrainian armed forces. In the Russian Federation, over 16,500 Russians have been arrested in anti-war demonstrations and could possibly face 10-15 years in prison. Almost one million Russians have left their country.

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