Russia invades and bombs Ukraine, leaving people around the world in fear

Home destroyed in Kyiv by Russian missiles. Photo from The Times of Israel

Home destroyed in Kyiv by Russian missiles. Photo from The Times of Israel

Sarai Flores, Staff Writer

Vladmir Putin declared war with Ukraine and initiated his attack yesterday. Ukrainian forces fought Russian invaders on three sides, making many people flee from their homes. For the past few days there have been gunshots and explosions in the Ukraine capital of Kyiv and there are at least 70 people reported dead. Russia has been sending missiles on targets across Ukraine and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on his citizens to defend their country and be prepared to take up arms. 

In recent times, Russia has made threats to invade and attack Ukraine and they finally did. Back in Aug, 24, 1991 the communist Supreme Soviet of Ukraine stated that they would no longer follow the laws of the USSR and only the laws of the Ukrainian SSR, which declared Ukraine independent from the soviet union. 

Ukraine has been independent for 31 years and most of those years have been peaceful. Russia has always been a problem for Ukraine and there have always been threats of invasion, but nothing was really set in place. About a week ago, Russian leader Vladmir Putin ripped up the peace accords which granted assurance of peace between Ukraine and Russia and placed 150,000 troops on the borders of Eastern Ukraine supposedly just for training but it made things seem like they were heading in the direction of an invasion which turned out to be right. 

Russia is saying that the United States and NATO have continuously broken pledges that were allegedly made in the 1990’s. These pledges were supposed to stop the alliance from expanding into the former soviet union bloc. 

On the other hand, the alliance leaders have said that they are unwilling to discuss closing NATO’s doors to new members but that they are open to diplomacy with Russia on other matters. Vladmir Putin does not want Ukraine to join NATO and in a televised speech said that “If Ukraine was to join NATO it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia.”

Russia sees the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO as a threat. 

There are also fears of a nuclear war seeing as Russia has announced that they would begin massive nuclear drills that will involve practice launches of its intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. 

President Joe Biden made a statement that “Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.” 

Putin responded with, Whoever tries to hinder us… should know that Russia’s response will be immediate. And it will lead you to such consequences that you have never encountered in your history.”

Many people are scared of what will happen next because no one wants to have another World War. The U.S. getting involved could lead to a very dangerous war seeing as there’s a possibility of China invading Taiwan; there’s a fear that our military is too weak to protect both. 

History teacher Charles Evans isn’t fearful of another war.

“I don’t think we’re going to face war here in the US, but we’re definitely going to feel the economic fallout of this and it could eventually lead to war,” Evans said. 

Many people believe that it’s not good for Ukraine to be taken over by force for fear of gas prices in the U.S. exceeding $170 a barrel. 

“I think that this is a factor in the rising of gas prices; however, if this was never happening I still believe the gas prices will adjust for world economics, this does have a factor, but if this invasion never happens the gas prices will still go up,” Master Sergeant David Moroyoqui stated. 

The thought of having another world war in this day and age is frightening because of all the advanced technology the world has. For now, it feels like all we can do is sit and watch how it plays out because if we are forced to go to war it will take a toll on all of our futures.