TMID Editorial: 1,000 days of war

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, many thought that it would be something of a blitzkrieg offensive: the much-feared Russian military might moving onto the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, prompting its collapse, Russian victory, and a newly dr

By: independent.com.mt

Nov 18 2024
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TMID Editorial: 1,000 days of

Today, however, almost 1,000 days later, anything but has happened.

Ukraine has fought on valiantly - sometimes even with great degrees of success, as sweeping counter attacks liberated swathes of territory from Russian occupiers and as daring invasions even took over towns across Russia's border.

But now - with this milestone looming - the situation again is starting to look grim.

Russia has continued its meat grinder tactics, throwing more and more equipment and more and more soldiers onto the front line, as it makes small yet steady territorial gains.

Ukraine meanwhile has struggled to minimise losses, maintain morale, and - most importantly - convince its allies that it can turn the tide if it gets more military aid. A failed counter-attack over last year has not done any good to this end, and electoral results the world over will not be of much help either.

This is a war of attrition in many ways akin to the horrors of the First World Wars - which started exactly 100 years ago - as both sides dig in across a sprawling front line.

New technology is being deployed, with drone strikes, for instance, the order of many days in Ukrainian cities. An Associated Press investigation published this weekend highlighted how Russia was fitting drones with thermobaric warheads, which can cause devastating damage and injuries to those even beyond the initial blast site.

News from abroad when it comes to elections is likely to worry some in Ukraine. The election of Donald Trump in particular, may be what ultimately shapes which way the war will continue in.

Trump, who has touted his good relationship with President Vladimir Putin and called the Russian leader "pretty smart" for invading Ukraine, has repeatedly criticised American backing of Ukraine - even as the Biden administration became more conservative and reluctant with the type of aid it provided.

This is fast becoming a time when Europe needs to band together even more than it already has in order to support Ukraine - but even that won't be easy, as the far-right makes gains in powerhouses like France and Germany. Total unity will be exceedingly difficult as long as Viktor Orban - who has time and time again proven that his interests lay more with Russia than Ukraine - remains in the hot seat in Hungary.

But as diplomacy is waged in the back corridors in the world's most important institutions, the frontlines remain what they are - lives continue to be lost, soldiers and civilians equally the victims of this senseless invasion.

The 1,000th day approaches this week, and likewise does another winter of war with no end seemingly in sight.

What is clear now is that wavering now and allowing Russia to maintain its current borders in an eventual ceasefire would only go to set the precedent that European borders are up for grabs if a power takes military action to take them.