Weltschau

The war in Ukraine has been going on for 10 years, from the beginning of the annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk in 2014 to the full-scale invasion in 2022. This time is very difficult for Ukrainians. The most important weapon we have is people, both military and civilian. The Russian information war is very clearly and quickly fighting against the spirit of the Ukrainian people. But the enemies turned out to be not only those who illegally encroach on the sovereign borders of the state.

Information Warfare and Its Impact On Ukrainians

For Ukrainians, the war has become a common topic for discussion. But one should pay attention only to what is happening on the battlefield. The most effective attack from the Russian Federation is an information war in the mass media. This war is waged using various methods, such as propaganda, cyberattacks, and disinformation. Modern man is chained to social networks, and despite bans on the use of Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, Facebook, and other networks in Russia, we can often see their users there. Of course, there would be nothing wrong with this if it were not for their propaganda. Russian users will always find a moment to publish a short post to undermine Ukrainians’ trust in the authorities. Russian propaganda is trying to demoralize Ukrainians by spreading fear, panic, and hopelessness. It is also used to justify aggression against Ukraine, creating its image as a hostile and dangerous state. Let’s take as an example what they write about the problems of Ukrainians and the deaths of civilians from Russian attacks. Allegedly, the Ukrainians provoke aggression, and the Russian Federation only destroys military facilities. But if you find reliable information about the loss of ordinary civilians in Ukraine, it shows that from February 24, 2022, to September 24, 2023, OHCHR recorded 9,701 dead and 17,748 wounded.

The War On the Borders of Ukraine and Why the Situation Is Becoming More Difficult

From 2014 to 2022, the Ukrainian people really demonstrated exemplary unity and compassion by providing massive aid to the territories occupied by the Russian Federation. Volunteers, activists, and ordinary people collected and handed over humanitarian aid, food, clothes, medicines, and children’s items. Ukrainian defenders defended the country’s freedom and sovereignty in Donbas at the cost of their lives. After 8 years of occupation of the three territories, a full-scale war began, due to which many Ukrainians left Ukraine. Of course, this hit the economy hard, and there were also not enough people to mobilize for the defense of the country. The first reason for Ukraine’s difficult situation in this war is the population. As of 2021, the country’s population was more than 43.79 million people, and the Russian Federation’s population was 143.4 million. This is where the first difficulty in Ukraine’s defense appears. The second difficulty arises from the fact that it is not possible to quickly find partners who are ready to help in this war. The key providers of military aid were the USA, Germany, Great Britain, the EU, and Norway, and the EU, the USA, Great Britain, Japan, and Norway were the key providers of financial aid. Turkey, Kazakhstan, Poland, and other countries also help with military equipment and monetary aid, but we should not close our eyes to the fact that countries such as Turkey and Kazakhstan also help the occupying country. And Poland, in its turn, not once, based on its own principles, closes its borders both for the supply of products and for ordinary people who want to cross the border. The situation on Ukraine’s borders remains tense. Russia continues to build up its military presence near Ukraine’s borders, drawing in troops, tanks, artillery, and other military equipment, giving it the opportunity to consider the occupation of larger territories.

Photo: Screenshot (Deep State)

“Brothers-countries”. Poland showed its friendliness to Ukrainians and how the USA “feeds” Ukraine with promises.

Photo: European truth

Considering the problems in the country, inequalities on the battlefield, of course the president of Ukraine expects help from allied countries. Poland helped a lot, from the start of the full-scale invasion until 2023. But from the beginning of 2024, Poland began to defend its interests and close its borders. There was a question about the ban on the transportation of grain and other Ukrainian products across Polish borders. They also raised the issue of assistance to Ukrainian refugees in Poland itself. Despite the worsening of relations between Poland and Ukraine, the Ukrainian people are grateful for the great and much-needed help at the beginning of the war. Poland is not the only country that shows its superiority over Ukraine. Back in 2023, the USA promised President Volodymyr Zelensky to provide assistance with F-16 aircraft. With these weapons, Ukraine would have taken control of the situation in the occupied territories and would have been able to improve the state of the borders.

Photo: Militarnyi

On February 17, 2024, the United States planned to train 12 Ukrainian F-16 pilots in the current fiscal year. This was reported by the publication Air & Space Forces with reference to a representative of the Air Force of the US National Guard.

Eight of those pilots are currently in training, with four more scheduled to be trained by the end of FY2024.

“It’s a very standardized training program that involves many countries, including the United States, who are trained here in the United States, and the English language training that precedes the tactical training,” a US defense official said. At the moment, the situation remains stable, Ukrainian pilots are still being trained to fly the F-16, and the transfer of aid is generally postponed until the summer. Ukraine really depends not only on the help of foreign partners, but also on its own stability, unity, and will to win. Without the unity and joint efforts of Ukrainians, the war can be lost. Ukrainians have already demonstrated incredible resilience and fortitude in the face of brutal aggression. This unity and steadfastness are key factors in confronting the enemy. The unity and activity of Ukrainians at the front and in the rear significantly increase the effectiveness of any help from outside. History shows that many nations have won victory over a stronger enemy through unity and self-sacrifice. Even a small but united group of people can do much more than a scattered crowd. Let us remember that the strength of Ukraine lies in the unity of its people! Together, we will be able to defeat any enemy, protect our land, and build a happy future for Ukraine. We believe in Ukraine! We believe in the Armed Forces! We believe in our victory!

Secretova Anastasia

Secretova Anastasia is a first-year student in the Journalism Department at V. I. Vernadsky Taurida National University.