The Russian invasion of Ukraine came as a shock internationally, with many fearing that it may become the biggest clash in the West since World War II. Even with the build-up of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border, uncertainty had lingered around whether President Vladimir Putin would execute military action in actuality. But with it becoming evident that Russia had closed its doors to a diplomatic resolution, global criticism has been directed toward Russia for the initiation of war.

The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine resulting from Russian aggression has been unfolding ever-increasingly. According to the UN, the number of displaced citizens fleeing the country has surpassed 3 million as of March 16. Images of devastated cities and accounts of those trapped without access to basic necessities portrayed in the media have highlighted the brutality of the ongoing fighting. Russia faced backlash in particular for its attack on civilians, bombing residential areas, schools, and hospitals. The Kremlin has also been held accountable for the difficulty in evacuation efforts — humanitarian convoys were detained, and attacks violating the boundaries of designated humanitarian corridors left refugees with few safe routes to travel through.

It now seems a general consensus that Putin’s political motives behind the invasion can never justify the threat to Ukrainian sovereignty and extensive civilian suffering that has been brought about. Individuals were quick to show their support for Ukraine, with petitions, protests, and fundraising campaigns gaining momentum. In Korea, 150 million KRW was raised on the first day of fundraising initiated by the Ukrainian Embassy in South Korea, and these efforts continue. Hundreds of multinational companies have followed, stopping sales and suspending operations within Russia. 

Leaders around the world have initially been more cautious due to the repercussions their actions may bring to their nations. “[In the early stages of the conflict, countries] were not ready to introduce heavy sanctions. And now we have what we have: the war,” commented Pavlo Bidenko, a Ukrainian researcher at KAIST, in an interview with The KAIST Herald. There still remains some reluctance to directly intervene in the war; for instance, President Zelensky’s request to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine has been turned down as this would put NATO and US forces close to military engagement with Russia and, in the worst case, spread the conflict towards another World War. Nevertheless, extensive foreign aid has been provided to Ukraine. Numerous countries, including EU members and the US, are supplying Ukraine with munitions and air defense systems. Unprecedented financial and economic sanctions consisting of bans on Russian oil and gas imports, restrictions against Russian banks, and closing of airspace to Russian commercial aircraft were imposed. What is most notable is the shift in stance of countries that have previously maintained neutrality — Switzerland froze Russian assets; Sweden, Finland, and Germany have made historic decisions in supplying arms to an area of conflict. The only major exceptions are Belarus and China. Belarus has faced sanctions along with Russia for supporting the invasion after Russian troops stationed in Belarus advanced into Ukraine. China has withheld from denouncing Russia’s actions so far, and there are concerns that China may give military aid to Russia. However, international criticism has and will likely turn toward any country deciding to support Russia in this war; the consolidation of the international community seems firm as ever in condemning Russia. 

The effects of the sanctions imposed on Russia have been surprisingly more efficient than expected. The Russian ruble fell to record-low exchange rates and the Russian stock market crashed, falling 39% on the first day of sanctions. Russian citizens have faced the consequences as prices surged and shortages of food and other goods occurred, along with restrictions in travel. However, as Ukrainian student Olesia Bilyk points out, “Sanctions, although effective, do not suffice themselves” because “it is impossible to immediately change [Russians’] opinions.” 

According to an opinion poll conducted by WCIOM on March 3, 71% of respondents were said to support Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, the implications unexpected considering the economic crisis caused by the invasion. But the truth may be different from what it appears to be. WCIOM itself is a state-controlled pollster, casting doubts on its reliability as a measure of public opinion. Putin’s call for a “self-purification of society” resulted in the detention of those protesting against the war and the further clamp-down on the media. One Russian student at KAIST added that while independent news sources reflecting the realities of the invasion were available in the earlier stages of the conflict, “once people are hooked into the propaganda, it is so manipulative that it is difficult to accept any other point of view” — and censorship is magnifying the effects of this propaganda. Despite this, it is becoming more evident that even Russians are disillusioned by the war: soldiers don’t know what they’re fighting for, thousands of Russians have fled from repression and economic hardship, and recently, a TV producer disrupted the state news holding up a sign that read, “No War”. The aforementioned Russian student also remarks, “This war is not only killing people in Ukraine, but also taking away our future. This one person’s ambitions and perception of history [is] affecting the whole generation and country.”

Despite continuation of talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials, an end to the war is not yet in sight as events threaten to turn for the worse. Casualties are continuing to rise; a missile strike on a Ukrainian military base near the Polish border aroused anxiety in neighboring NATO member countries; there is heightened apprehension that Russia may bring chemical weapons onto the battleground. As the conflict prolongs, relations are continually changing as more and more countries and transnational organizations are drawn into the conflict. On March 16, the International Court of Justice took action, ordering Russia to “immediately suspend military operations” in Ukraine. Regardless of how the war ends, it seems clear that the conflict has already reached a point of no return in some aspects. As the Ukrainian interviewees assert, “We will never accept the Russian invaders and all of their [demands], and [we’re] not sure they will have our forgiveness even after many decades.”