Voice of Ukrainian: Two Weeks of War

Two weeks of the full-scale war have passed. Clearly, Putin’s “special operation” known as a brutal military invasion into Ukraine has failed. No large city has fallen. Ukraine’s capital is guarded like a fortress. Despite the heavy bombing, other major regional centers like Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Mykolaiv do not give up. Even the cities that are temporarily controlled by Russians resist the occupation. The number of Russian casualties reaches 12,000, according to the ZSU General Staff. Countless Russian soldiers surrender to captivity. Accordingly, it seems that after the failure in a fight against the Ukrainian Army, Russia decided to fight against civilians. Today, the world was shocked by the bombing of a children's hospital and maternity hospital in Mariupol. However, this bombing is only the tip of the iceberg.

Pregnant woman being saved by Ukrainian police after aircraft bombing of Mariupol by Russia, Donetsk region. Photo Credit: Evgeny Maloletka.

An injured pregnant woman during the evacuation from a bombed maternity hospital in Mariupol, Donetsk region. Photo credit: Evgeny Maloletka.

The heavy attacks on Mariupol have also caused the death of an 18-months-old baby on 6 March. You can see the boy’s parents running in the hospital willing to save their injured child. Photo credit: Evgeny Maloletka.

What is going on in different regions of Ukraine?

Currently, there are three directions of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine — North, South, and East. On the north, there are three large cities Russia is trying to conquer — Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Taking into account the bombings of Zhytomyr, Russia may be also interested in this city since blocking it may also block some routes to Kyiv from the western part of Ukraine. In the eastern direction, Russian troops attempt to conquer Kharkiv as well as the rest of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Finally, the southern direction is currently the most successful for Russia (hopefully, not for a long time): Russian forces temporarily occupied Kherson, a range of smaller cities on the Azov Sea (e.g. Melitopol and Berdiansk), Enerhodar and attempt to occupy Mykolaiv.

The map of the Russian invasion. Russian forces cannot control the whole regions and regional centers of Ukraine, so they gradually move to their objects of interest: Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kyiv on the North; Kharkiv on the East; and Kherson, Mariupol, Mykolaiv on the South. Note that the whole regions marked with red are Crimea and a part of Donbas occupied by Russia in 2014, not in 2022. This map is created by Nathan Ruser, however, I edited it to demonstrate the cities of interest for Russia (yellow points), as well as the cities that are currently under Russian control (marked with red points).

Kyiv

First, the situation in Kyiv is in total control of Ukrainian authorities. During the two weeks, Russia did not succeed in surrounding the city. Russian troops came close to Kyiv only in the north-western direction by passing the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant Zone of Alienation. In other words, since it was too dangerous to fight near the Chornobyl power plant, Ukrainians were forced to retreat, and Russian troops used it to move forward.

The map of the Kyiv region. The city of Kyiv is located at the center. Territories partly controlled by Russian troops are marked with red. As you see, Kyiv is far from being besieged.

As noted above, Kyiv is guarded as a fortress. There are numerous checkpoints and barricades around the city, as well as inside it. The city is guarded by Army, police, and territorial defense forces. Moreover, as I mentioned in my previous article, civilians that live in Kyiv also help to prepare Kyiv for possible attacks on the part of Russians. In particular, numerous Molotov cocktails are already prepared for Russian troops, and every civilian that has a weapon is allowed to use it against Russian soldiers. It should be noted that Ukrainians are experienced in building barricades and preparing Molotov cocktails due to the revolution that took place 8 years ago.

Barricades in the city center of Kyiv now. Photo credit: Kateryna Hatsenko.

Barricades built by protesters in the city center of Kyiv in 2014.

While Kyiv is relatively safe (except for everyday rocket and aircraft bombings that are blocked by our air defense forces), Kyiv suburbs suffer from Russian troops. Russian soldiers commit military crimes in several small towns and villages near Kyiv. At the beginning of the war, the world was shocked by the photographs from Borodianka — a small town located nearly 50km from Kyiv that was bombed by Russia with the use of missiles.

Buildings in Borodianka ruined by a Russian missile. Nearly, there is a monument of the foremost Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko whose poetry inspires Ukrainians to fight for our freedom.

However, the military crimes of Russian troops did not end in Borodianka. The most fierce battles in the Kyiv region took place in three cities — Hostomel, Bucha, and Irpin. Currently, two of them (along with some small villages located nearby) are controlled by Russians. Irpin is partly under Russian control. Two weeks ago, these cities were typical suburbs with townhouses, parks, and everything for comfortable life. However, the war has changed everything, leaving the citizens without their homes, Internet or cell phone connection, food, and electricity. Russian troops prevent the evacuation of civilians and shoot them when they attempt to flee from the city. For example, Russian troops killed a Ukrainian family on the road that was reported to be within a humanitarian corridor to allow civilians to safely leave the city. Another Ukrainian family was shot by Russians from an infantry combat vehicle right in their car, for no reason. You can see the video of this cruelty here (warning, not for sensitive people).

The city of Irpin long before the war. It was considered the best place to live near Kyiv.

Residential buildings destroyed in Irpin due to the war.

A woman and her two children killed by Russian troops during the attempt to leave the city through the humanitarian corridor in Irpin.

Ukrainian Armed Forces help civilians to evacuate from Irpin.

Chernihiv and Sumy

Two regional centers in the north of Ukraine — Chernihiv, and Sumy — are bombed by Russian aircraft. Numerous civilians were killed due to these randomly targeted bombings. Although, maybe they are not actually targeted randomly and their purpose is to spread terror among civilian Ukrainians? The commonly accepted definition of terrorism is “political violence designed to induce terror and psychic fear through the violent victimization and destruction of noncombatant targets”. Heavy bombing of civilians in the cities without the objects of military infrastructure may be considered nothing other than terrorism.

Residential building in Chernihiv destroyed by Russian aircraft.

At the same time, these two cities, as well as other smaller cities in the region, do not give up. Territorial defense and Ukrainian Army, being supported by the local population still resist Russian troops. Chernihiv is among the cities recognized as ‘hero city’ by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Kharkiv and the Region

Kharkiv is another regional center that suffered from the Russian invasion to the largest extent. I have already mentioned the destruction of Kharkiv city center by Russian missiles in my previous story. Currently, Russian troops still attempt to bomb this once beautiful city that was also awarded as ‘hero city’ for its stoic resistance to Russia. I also want to mention the city of Izium located in the Kharkiv region. This city was almost destroyed by the Russian army despite the fact that there is no military objects in it. According to local authorities, Russian artillery destroyed the central hospital, railway station, bus station, court building, medical college, police station, many residential buildings, and shops of this small town. Again, I cannot find any explanation of these actions other than terrorism.

Destroyed streets of Izium, a small town in the Kharkiv region.

Mariupol

Mariupol is the only city that prevents Russia from creating a corridor from its territory to occupied Crimea. For this reason, the city is sieged by Russian forces and suffers from constant bombing on the part of Russians. In 2014, Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to protect Mariupol from Russia. This year, the situation in the city is far worse. The city that was a home for 446,000 Ukrainians is almost ruined. There is no electricity, water, or food. A 6-year-old girl Tanya Moroz died (warning, the link is not for sensitive people) because of dehydration in besieged Mariupol being trapped under the ruins of her home. Furthermore, Russian troops do not allow civilians to leave the city. For example, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the evacuation route out of the besieged city of Mariupol was mined by Russians.

The city of Mariupol is located on the coast of the Azov Sea, between the occupied Crimea and the occupied part of the Donetsk region. It is marked with the only small yellow spot on this map. Credit: Viewsridge.

Mykolaiv

Another large city that fights heroically against Russian aggression in Mykolaiv. Led by charismatic Head of Regional State Administration Vitalii Kim, Mykolaiv with its successful defense is currently one of the most popular cities among foreign journalists. Kim posts updates on the situation in the city in his Telegram blog. Mykolaiv was attacked and bombed by artillery many times, however, Vitalii Kim’s fighting spirit inspires the whole of Ukraine. He explains that he just does not worry about the things he cannot change and, thus keeps calm and does the right things.

Vitalii Kim, the Head of Regional State Administration in Mykolaiv, in his office.

Nuclear Power Plants

Aside from Russia’s military crimes against Ukrainian civilians, the whole world follows the situation with Russian troops near Ukrainian nuclear power plants. For Ukrainians, it is not a joke. Thirty-six years ago, in 1986, our country faced the disaster of Chornobyl that also impacted the rest of the world. Therefore, we take nuclear power safety very seriously. Obviously, Russia does not. After the beginning of the war with Ukraine, everyone wonders whether Putin may destroy the world with a nuclear weapon. In 2018, he said that he does not need the world without Russia. In particular, his words were “If someone decides to destroy Russia, we have the right to respond. Yes, it will be a global disaster for humanity, however, as a citizen of Russia and the Russian president, I want to ask: why do we need the world without Russia?” This is insane, especially taking into account that Putin sees threats to Russia in everything. For example, according to his propaganda, Russia just had to attack Ukraine to protect itself.

Naturally, the dangers of nuclear power along with Putin’s attitude to the safety of the world are worrying. Considering that Russian troops already control two large nuclear power plants in Ukraine, one may assume that Putin wants to issue ultimatums to Ukraine by intimidating to blow up (or cause any other harm) nuclear power plants in our country. Currently, the Chornobyl nuclear power plant controlled by Russians is de-energized, in two days the cooling system of the storage of spent nuclear fuel will be turned off, which will threaten the leakage of radiation. This week Russians also started a battle near Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, thus putting Ukraine and Europe in danger. Indeed, when in 1986, in Chornobyl, only one reactor exploded causing harm for many generations, imagine the possible harm that may be caused by Russians in Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant that has 6 reactors. As noted by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, “The barbaric war of the Russian Federation threatens the whole of Europe. Putin must stop it immediately!”

Resistance of the Local Population

Numerous murders of civilians committed by Russian troops (including aircraft and artillery) result in even fiercer resistance on the part of Ukrainians. As noted by one of the Ukrainian soldiers that fled from territories occupied by Russians in the Kyiv region, Russian troops evoke pure hatred among the population in temporarily occupied cities and villages. I have already mentioned the protests organized by Ukrainians against Russian troops in Melitopol, Berdiansk, and Kherson. After two weeks of the war, the resistance continues. For example, in a wide range of cities in the Kherson region civilians have gathered to protest against Russian occupation. These cities include Kherson itself, Oleshky, Novooleksiivka, Chaplynka, Nova Kakhovka, Henichesk, Kalanchak, and others. Kherson citizens also refused to take humanitarian help from Russian troops. Let me remind you how dangerous it is to protest in temporarily occupied cities: in some of the aforementioned cities, armed Russian troops opened fire against civilian protesters.

Protest against Russian occupation in Kherson. A Ukrainian man holds a sign ‘Kherson is Ukraine’.

The protests were also organized in other regions of Ukraine, for example, Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia regions. In particular, in Melitopol, Berdiansk and Enerhodar Ukrainians repeatedly protested against Russian troops. Yesterday, the citizens of Horodnia, Chernihiv region, went to the streets to celebrate the birthday of the foremost Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko whose poetry inspires Ukrainians to fight for our freedom.

Citizens of Melitopol burn the scarecrow of Putin in response to the temporary occupation of their city.

Citizens of Enerhodar block the road for Russian troops to prevent the occupation of their city.

Citizens of Horodnia celebrate the birthday of the foremost Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko on the temporarily occupied streets of their city.

Yes, we fight against one of the largest armies in the world. Yes, it is difficult and we have lost some territories. We have lost numerous brothers and sisters. The war killed tens of children. Nevertheless, our spirit is indomitable. Putin wanted to terrorize us? He only got us even angrier and determined to resist till the end.

Oh bury me, then rise ye up

And break your heavy chains

And water with the tyrants’ blood

The freedom you have gained.

Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian poet