Even now, nearly two years after war first consumed Ukraine, brought on by the Russian Federation, the war continues to be fought, and developments important to keep in mind and remember in the face of the devastation continue to be produced despite the danger posed to journalists by the war itself. With said developments, it becomes necessary to convey the information related to said war, and it is in this interest that this article exists.
In the large port city of Odessa, large explosions rocked the city last week, explosions caused by Russian missile and rocket weaponry situated in the Caucasus and the Crimean peninsula. Whilst Russia claimed that the targets were purely military, primarily citing the existence of the maritime drone facility in the city, the commercial and civilian sector of the city was damaged, with civilian deaths reported. President Zelensky was quick to condemn the Russian attack, claiming it was an act of terrorism by an unwieldy Russian army.
The Russian offensive into eastern Ukraine made headway over the last few weeks, largely caused by equipment shortages amidst the Ukrainian armed forces. The Russian Federation has claimed their small defeats as “Great victories,” whilst Ukrainian state media has been quick to cite the heroism of their own brave soldiers, resisting to the last man against the invader. Regardless of the narrative, the headway made by Russia is worrying for Ukraine and her allies, as it means the tide of the war could be shifting.
It is not all bad news for Ukraine however, as their naval drones and naval forces have managed to sink more of the already dwindling Russian Black Sea fleet. Ukrainian missile drones scored great hits on Russian naval vessels, sending them to the bottom of the Black Sea, and winning major victories in terms of both tactical and strategic objectives on the side of Ukraine. Russia was quick to condemn Ukraine for its actions, whilst Ukraine cited Russia’s hypocrisy on the issue.
The fighting became increasingly ferocious at the Zenith-air defense base a mile south of Avdiika, where for years the Ukrainian armed forces have defended the road into the city, especially the southern approaches that lead into the proper urban center. Russian troops advanced along the flanks, utilizing artillery, tank, and mortar fire, smashing up the defenses of the city, and wounding numerous Ukrainian soldiers.
The Ukrainian soldiers described their desperate attempts to protect the city. “All the fortifications were being destroyed, and there was no time or way to build new ones.” The relentless Russian onslaught has put great pressure on the Ukrainian armed forces to respond, an issue considering the Ukrainian armed forces are already spread thin across the country in their attempts to repel the Russian forces from Eastern Ukraine.
The winter counteroffensive Ukraine attempted to launch to retake much of their occupied territory has largely stalled and been met with stagnation, evident by the Russian offensives beginning as spring begins described earlier. With the failure of said counteroffensive, Ukrainian military staff and operation planners will have to rethink their strategy as the cold winter months end.
The Abrams, a U.S tank, suffered its first combat loss in Ukraine. The tank, one of thirty sent to Ukraine, was destroyed by Russian forces. The tank worked as intended, with the panels blowing out to protect and save the crew from death, a feature touted by the manufacturers of the tank that has now been properly proven.
As the war continues on into 2024, developments will continue to pile in, but one can imagine that the wish of the people in Ukraine itself, and possibly even within Russia, is a quick end to the war, so is the wish of humanity.
