365 Days of Suffering

It has been one year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Seven researchers at Freie Universität share their perspectives on the far-reaching impacts of the conflict.

On February 24, 2023, a whole year passed since Russia invaded Ukraine, an event that marked a watershed in international relations. Despite the diplomatic efforts of numerous heads of state and government and conflicting reports from within the Kremlin, Russian troops attacked eastern Ukraine in late February 2022. They were supported in doing so by the Wagner Group, a paramilitary non-state organization that also participated in the 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

Combat between Russian armed forces and Ukrainian troops as well as Russian attacks on infrastructure and civilian targets have resulted in immeasurable pain, destruction, and suffering. It has not yet been confirmed how many Ukrainian civilians and soldiers on both sides have been killed, and there are no impartial statistics regarding how many mercenaries have fallen. Recent figures from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights estimate that 7,199 civilians in Ukraine, including 438 children, have been killed due to Russia’s attacks on infrastructure and residential areas. Roughly 11,756 people were injured over the same time period.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, about eight million people – a fifth of the Ukrainian population – have had to flee because of the war. In response to Russia’s war of aggression, a number of states across the globe have been providing Ukraine with large-scale political, financial, military, and humanitarian support.

The statements below, given by seven researchers at Freie Universität Berlin, analyze developments over the past twelve months from the perspectives of disciplines such as international law and foreign policy. These experts evaluate the efficacy of the strategies taken by the international community to bring an end to the war, from economic sanctions against Russia to its political isolation. We hope that you find their columns insightful and informative.