BY JACOB RUSSELL
Although the ongoing Ukraine conflict is thousands of miles away, it is important for our CVU community to stay informed of real world events even when we are not directly affected.
Since the beginning of the conflict in late February, the Ukrainian forces have steadily begun to push back against the Russians, although it is still an uphill climb. Steady advances have been made against the Russians in the Ukrainian city of Kyiv, and other areas of Ukraine’s Eastern front.
According to NPR, on September 19th, a Russian missile has also reportedly detonated within just 900 feet of a Ukrainian nuclear reactor, which would be the second strike against a nuclear facility since the start of the war. This event has elevated previous concerns of safety, and potential nuclear disasters that could occur from these strikes.
As of September 10th, Ukraine has recaptured the Russian held territory of Izium, discovering mass graves of hundreds of people, soldiers and civilians, although the full extent of the potential massacre is unknown, sparking the call for more investigation into possible war crimes.
On September 20th, President Putin ordered the partial militarization of an additional 300,000 reserve troops, as a message that the Ukraine conflict is far from over. In the same address, Putin again hinted at a possible nuclear threat, further escalating tensions with the West.
