Weekly Update #104
February 26, 2024

In early March 2022, shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military, and at the suggestion of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the representatives of major global Catholic-inspired humanitarian organizations (Caritas Internationalis, Jesuit Refugees Services, ICMC, Sovereign Order of Malta, Depaul International, Knights of Columbus, Santa Marta Group, Stella Maris (for Seafarers), and the Councils of Episcopal Conferences in Europe [COMECE and CCEE, including collaboration with Maestral International and Catholic Health Association of the USA], formed a Catholic Response for Ukraine Working Group (CR4U) to share information about their actions in the affected region (Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, and Romania) and to jointly address gaps.

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) was requested to assume the convening responsibilities for the coordination efforts of the Working Group. With support from the GHR Foundation and other donors, ICMC engaged a full-time Working Group coordinator who has been able to assist the sharing of information and joint activities in and outside Ukraine. ICMC has prepared weekly briefing documents about the widespread harm and loss, caused by this war, to individuals, families, local communities, and the environment, as well as responses by international agencies, governments, Churches and civil society, and ongoing human and environmental needs. Finally, for its direct action, ICMC has prioritized support for diocesan-level Mental Health and Psychosocial Support projects with Internally Displaced Persons and other war-affected persons inside Ukraine.

The Working Group members have undertaken widespread efforts to benefit untold numbers of war-affected persons and to maintain emergency action to satisfy basic physical, emotional, and spiritual needs for those who struggle to deal with loss, injuries, destruction and grief, and to keep up hope for a peaceful and dignified future. This issue features many of their respective reports at this critical two-year juncture of humanitarian response. Members of the Working Group also have undertaken numerous solidarity visits to Ukraine and neighboring countries hosting (sheltering?) the refugees from violence and attack. Finally, the initiatives of the Working Group members have been featured by both Church-inspired and secular media and always strive to feature the stories of our suffering but also resilient Ukrainian sisters and brothers and to call attention to those suffering in other conflicts, wars, and persecution that take place in literally every corner of this wide and fractures world.

All these efforts have been inspired by Pope Francis, who never ceases to pray for prompt action and solidarity with Ukrainians and all those affected by war and violence and to urge our untiring solidarity and effective responses, both in responding to needs and in advocating for peace. Thus, we join him in a pilgrimage of prayer and solidarity: “While renewing my heartfelt affection for the tormented Ukrainian people, I keep praying for everyone, especially for the countless innocent victims. I earnestly plead that the little humanity needed to create the conditions for a diplomatic solution in seeking for a just and lasting peace be sought. And, brothers and sisters, let us not forget to pray for Palestine, for Israel, and for the many peoples torn apart by war, and to concretely help those who suffer! Let us think of the huge amount of suffering, let us think of the wounded, innocent children.” Pope Francis, Angelus Prayer, 25 February 2024

by Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Vitillo, Secretary General, International Catholic Migration Commission

UKRAINIAN REFUGEE CRISIS

(as of 15 February 2024)

General Figures

Refugees from Ukraine recorded across Europe

6,004,100

Last updated February 15 2024

Covers those granted refugee status, temporary asylum status, temporary protection, or statuses through similar national protection schemes, as well as those recorded in the country under other forms of stay

Refugees from Ukraine recorded beyond Europe

475,600

Last updated January 27 2024

Refugees from Ukraine recorded globally

6,479,700

Last updated February 15 2024

Estimated number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ukraine

3,674,002

Last updated November 6 2023

Source: IOM

Source: UNHCR collation of statistics made available by the authorities

“To date, Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine has caused over 10,000 civilian deaths, an estimated 20,000 civilian injuries and an undisclosed number of combatant casualties. Some 18 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance – almost 40 percent of Ukraine’s population. This includes over three million people living in frontline communities who face severe shortages of resources and constant bombardment. While millions of people remain internally displaced in Ukraine, some 6 million Ukrainians, mostly women and children, have sought refuge abroad, which was one of the fastest and largest refugee exoduses in history and they currently make up the third largest refugee population in the world.”

UN Special Rapporteurs

24 February 2024

UN Statements Calling for Peace in Ukraine

(excerpts)

“The ultimate path to peace in Ukraine lies in upholding the Charter of the United Nations and international law as guides to a world free of war, the Organization’s top official told the Security Council today, declaring that the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour — started two years ago — directly violated both.”

“It is high time for peace — a just peace, based on the United Nations Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions,” said Secretary-General António Guterres, adding: “Scorning the Charter has been the problem. Honouring it is the solution.”

Antonio Guterres

UN Secretary General

“The situation in Ukraine has been added to a litany of continuous suffering, and the world’s attention seems jaded by the multiple crises that we face. I feel for the Ukrainians, who have a right to peace, and who deserve peace, in line with the UN Charter and international law. Instead, I fear that protracted and entrenched conflict will impact lives and human rights for generations to come.

It has been 662 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. My Office continues to undertake extensive monitoring and documentation by our Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), based on the rigorous, and tried and tested, methodology we have developed over decades. This documentation continues to indicate gross violations of international human rights law, serious violations of international humanitarian law, and war crimes, primarily by the forces of the Russian Federation.”

Volker Turk

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Joint Press Release by the United Nations, the World Bank Group, the European Commission and the Government of Ukraine

After almost two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an updated joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3) released today by the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank Group, the European Commission, and the United Nations currently estimates that as of 31 December 2023 the total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine is $486 billion over the next decade, up from $411 billion estimated one year ago.

In 2024 alone, Ukrainian authorities estimate the country will need around $15 billion for immediate reconstruction and recovery priorities at both the national and community level, with a particular focus on supporting and mobilizing the private sector alongside restoration of housing, soft infrastructure and services, energy, and transport. The RDNA3 highlights that while some $5.5 billion of this funding has been secured, from both Ukraine’s international partners and its own resources, about $9.5 billion is currently unfunded.

"Despite the ongoing full-scale war, the Ukrainian government, with the support of international partners, continues to implement a rapid recovery program. The execution of the Third Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3) allows us to approach this process more systematically. We are grateful to the World Bank and other partners for this work," said Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. "We see that the needs for reconstruction have continued to grow over the past year. The main resource for Ukraine's recovery should be the confiscation of Russian assets frozen in the West. We need to start this process already this year. Concurrently, the Ukrainian government is creating conditions to attract private investments, which will accelerate the reconstruction process and transform our country on its path to the EU."

Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi said: “Russia’s war of aggression continues to have far-reaching consequences on Ukraine. The EU will continue to play a key role in addressing the short and medium-term challenges identified in today’s RDNA3 report. By making available the updated information, RDNA3 helps to further focus the recovery, reconstruction and modernization effort through Ukraine Facility and Ukraine Plan.”

The RDNA3, which covers damages incurred over a nearly two-year period from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, to December 31, 2023, finds that direct damage in Ukraine has now reached almost $152 billion, with housing, transport, commerce and industry, energy, and agriculture as the most affected sectors. Damage is concentrated in the Donetska, Kharkivska, Luhanska, Zaporizka, Khersonska, and Kyivska oblasts which are the same regions that suffered the greatest damage as reported in the previous assessment.

Across the country, 10% of the housing stock has been damaged or destroyed, prolonging displacement of Ukrainians from their communities. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam and the hydropower plant in June 2023 has resulted in significant negative impacts on the environment and agriculture and exacerbated challenges already faced by people struggling to access housing, water, food, and health services.

The RDNA3 lists critical investment needs for short-term recovery and medium-term reconstruction. Where possible, the assessment considers and excludes the needs that have already been met through the state budget and support provided by partners and the international community.

The RDNA3 also highlights the continued need for reforms and policies that catalyze private sector involvement and ensure an inclusive and green recovery, as well as integrating project planning into the medium-term budget planning process.

“The last two years have seen unprecedented suffering and loss for Ukraine and its people,” said Antonella Bassani, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia. “Yet, while this updated assessment documents the extensive damages and consequent needs, it is at the same time a testament to Ukraine’s resilience—demonstrating that the dedication and adaptability of its people have helped to already repair some of the damage and build towards recovery. As the Ukrainian authorities continue on their path towards economic recovery and ambitious reforms, we, the World Bank Group, remain deeply committed to working with them to secure a better future.”

The RDNA3 findings complement the priorities foreseen in reform and investment agenda of the Ukraine Plan that will lay the framework for implementing payments under the Ukraine Facility for the next four years by the EU. As Ukraine prepares for the EU accession process, these reforms and investments support the principles of “building back better” and the institutional capacity of national and subnational authorities.

Since the last assessment (RDNA2), the Government of Ukraine, with the support of its partners, has met some of the most urgent needs. For example, in the housing sector, according to the Government of Ukraine data, in 2023, $1 billion was disbursed toward housing sector recovery, with most being dedicated to the repair and reconstruction of damaged buildings. In the transport sector, more than 2,000km of emergency repairs were made on motorways, highways, and other national roads. In the education sector, local authorities rebuilt approximately 500 educational institutions and since January 2023, the share of educational institutions with bomb shelters has increased from 68% to 80%.

The RDNA3 also includes stronger data and analysis of the impact on vulnerable groups of people and on communities. It presents the case for investment in Ukraine’s human capital.

“The war is not over. The suffering is not over,” said Denise Brown, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ukraine. “But communities in Ukraine are demonstrating significant courage and commitment in driving their own inclusive recovery processes and they need the continued support of their international partners. The future of Ukraine depends upon the people of Ukraine; this is where we need to invest.”

The overall costs reflected in the recovery and reconstruction figure of $486 billion—estimated over 10 years—include measures required for rebuilding for a modern, low-carbon, inclusive and climate-resilient future. The highest estimated recovery and reconstruction needs are in housing (17% of the total), followed by transport (15%), commerce and industry (14%), agriculture (12%), energy (10%), social protection and livelihoods (9%), and explosive hazard management (7%). Across all sectors, the cost of debris clearance and management (and demolition where needed) reached almost $11 billion.

Source: United Nations

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Tens of Thousands are Missing From the War Two Years On, the Case for Assisting Ukraine Is Stronger than Ever

Marking the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Commissioners and Director-General of the International Commission on Missing persons issued the following statement:

As we mark the second anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion, the case for assisting Ukraine remains unchanged. Countries cannot attack their neighbors in order to pursue arbitrary territorial claims. And the case for helping Ukraine to account for those who have gone missing is equally compelling. To do so is a fundamental element in restoring the rule of law. It will be essential to Ukraine’s postwar recovery and it will be essential to the process of bringing those responsible for disappearances to justice.

Today, faced with massive strategic, administrative and financial challenges, Ukraine is developing procedures to collect, store and share information, excavate clandestine graves, identify human remains, and investigate individual missing persons cases, in such a way that evidence can be presented at future war crimes trials. It is pursuing a law-based approach to the issue explicitly and effectively, and by endeavoring to uphold the rights of its own citizens to truth and justice it is doing this on behalf of citizens beyond its own borders.

This is not a quixotic exercise but an intensely practical one. The authorities in Ukraine are organizing existing resources and expertise in a manner that will make it possible to maintain an effective missing persons process over the long term. It is imperative that international partners maintain their support for this process.

Accounting for large numbers of people who have gone missing requires coordination across institutions and ministries – it is a complex and demanding task, but it is by no means impossible.

Supported by the European Union and the governments of Canada, Germany, Norway, and the United States, the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) is now providing training and resources to Ukraine so that gaps can be filled. ICMP’s capacity to do this is further bolstered by the long-term support it has received from state parties, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden and Luxembourg. The objective is to create a system that can establish the fate of missing adults and children, missing civilians and members of the military, and those who have gone missing inside Ukraine and in neighboring countries.

In the summer of 2023, ICMP published an analysis of the missing persons challenge facing Ukraine, and a description of the steps that have been taken and that still need to be taken in order to meet this challenge. A Country of Missing People describes technical, legislative and institutional measures that have been applied successfully in missing persons programs elsewhere in the world and explains how some of these could be applied in Ukraine. The book shows how establishing efficient coordination among multiple agencies is a difficult but necessary task; it examines how the work of family associations and CSOs can be supported and made more effective; and it shows in detail how an effective strategy can secure truth and justice for families of the missing and for society as a whole.

Many of the recommendations that ICMP has made to the Ukrainian authorities since 2014 have already been incorporated in measures to address the issue, including the Law on the Legal Status of Persons Gone Missing Under Special Circumstances.

The disciplined and targeted effort that is now underway will help Ukraine – and Europe – to assert in the most meaningful way the fundamental principle that might is not right, and that all states are subject to the rule of law. The assistance that has been provided to help the country account for tens of thousands of missing citizens has been effective and must continue.

Source: ICMP

THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Ukraine Situation - Final Report 2023

This UNHCR report presents the humanitarian response of the wide range of partners who participated in the Regional Refugee Response Plan implemented in 2023. Excerpts from this Report include highlights of the regional response as well as the situation in each of the ten countries in the region and their significant achievements. For more details, kindly refer to the full Report (link below).

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In the two years since the Russian Federation’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, host governments, as well as local communities and civil society actors, have demonstrated great generosity, political will and effective support to ensure protection and meet the essential needs of refugees.

At the same time, humanitarian partners, under the overall leadership of the national authorities, have supported and complemented the national response through coordinated and inclusive interventions. This 2023 End of Year Report looks back at the achievements and challenges of the response to the refugee crisis, both at the regional level and within the countries included in the RRP.

The report is structured with a regional part organized around the four strategic objectives of the plan and 10 country chapters exploring highlights and achievements and gaps and challenges faced in the implementation of the response plan.

REGIONAL STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

1: Ensure refugees’ access to protection and assistance on a non-discriminatory basis, including the rights associated with temporary protection or similar legal statuses in host countries.

2: Pave the way toward solutions and expand access to social and economic opportunities to facilitate social inclusion of refugees through a whole-of-society approach and in line with the Global Compact on Refugees, recognizing in particular the critical role played by national and local actors, including government ministries, municipal authorities, NGOs and RLOs.

3: Ensure that refugees with specific needs continue to have access to targeted support and assistance, while also engaging with and strengthening community-level protective mechanisms.

4: Advance social cohesion among refugee and host communities through targeted interventions.

Cross-cutting themes across all objectives included: i) accountability to affected people; ii) protection from sexual exploitation and abuse; and iii) mental health and psycho-social support.

Source: UNHCR

COUNTRY REPORTS

Bulgaria

Situation Overview

By the end of 2023, Bulgaria recorded 67,000 valid temporary protection (TP) beneficiaries following a re-registration exercise from February to March. The State Agency for Refugees continued to process renewal at the end of 2023, 5,600 refugees remained accommodated in government-sponsored accommodation schemes and state-owned facilities.

Most refugees from Ukraine reside in the coastal area as well as larger cities, including Plovdiv and Sofia. Government discussions are underway on a new humanitarian programme that includes key integration aspects for refugees from Ukraine. The inter-agency 2023 Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment (MSNA) showed that the average stay of the majority of refugees in Bulgaria was 13 months, indicating a stable population within the country with longer-term prospects applications at its six centers in the country.

Czech Republic

Situation Overview

By the end of 2023, Czechia remained among the top three destinations for Ukrainian refugees with one of the largest refugee populations overall and per capita in the European Union. Over 581,000 Ukrainians were granted temporary protection (TP) since February 2022 while more than 375,000 maintained an active status as of end 2023. Women constituted approximately 63 per cent of the refugee population; and children represented around 26 per cent, highlighting potential vulnerabilities within a significant proportion of the refugee population

The Czech Government, working closely with regions, municipalities, partners, NGOs, and refugee-led organizations, displayed exemplary solidarity, adopting a whole-of-society approach to address the refugee situation. high numbers of economically active refugees secured jobs by the end of 2023 (72 per cent), but the majority of refugees were working below their qualifications and often face precarious conditions. the Government implemented Acts, collectively referred to as Lex Ukraine V. in July 2023,15 that defined vulnerable categories of refugees for focused assistance and shifted from a system that supported all TP holders equally to a more targeted approach

Attendance of refugee children grew in all levels of education, despite limited capacities in certain educational institutions. Refugees further reported very high coverage of health insurance (99 per cent) and good access to health services. Czechia's response to the Ukrainian refugee situation has been commendable. The implementation of targeted support through Lex Ukraine V. and VI. demonstrates the Government's commitment to addressing vulnerabilities within the refugee population. As efforts continue, addressing language barriers and other obstacles to income opportunities and ensuring sufficient educational resources will be crucial for the successful inclusion of Ukrainian refugees into Czech society.

Estonia

Situation Overview

Estonia received 56,900 applications for temporary protection as well as 6,366 applications for international protection by Ukrainians. In 2023, 9,130 Ukrainian citizens were registered in the state education system including primary, secondary and VET or language courses. As the conflict in Ukraine reaches its second-year mark, and looking towards 2024, socio-economic issues have become increasingly the focus of activities of RRP partners in Estonia.

In 2023, the Refugee Response Plan (RRP), led by UNHCR, and comprising the 14 humanitarian partners working together on their funding situation and its impact on programming. The 2023 RRP asked for US$9.135M for activities in Estonia, of which 29 per cent were funded at year end. The current funding situation indicates that more than half of the appealing partners need to adjust their activities due to funding gaps, with local NGOs being severely affected. The sectors most affected are basic needs, protection as well as livelihood and economic inclusion.

Hungary

Situation Overview

By the end of 2023, Hungary recorded 41,000 applications for temporary protection (TP) status, along with nearly 27,300 Ukrainian nationals registered under work-related residence permits issued after February 2022.

Last year, Ukrainian nationals accounted for over 1.5 million border crossings into Hungary and 1.3 million exits to Ukraine through the direct border.32 The majority are not crossing for the first time or continuing their journey onwards towards Slovakia, Germany, Czechia, and Austria.33 Only a minority of the crossings are associated with newcomers intending to reside in Hungary, as indicated by the TP numbers.

The Hungarian Government grants TP holders a range of support measures to assist them with settling in and integrating into Hungarian society.34 These benefits include free temporary accommodation, access to healthcare, education, employment, and subsistence allowances. Additionally, free public transportation from the border to/within Budapest was extended for the whole of 2023.

However, two years into the conflict, the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable refugee individuals, including refugees with disabilities, older refugees, ethnic minorities, unemployed refugees, and those with chronic medical conditions, continues to be strained. The prolonged displacement and localized factors, such as rising costs of living and rent, impacted the income and savings of refugees and hindered their sustainable inclusion into Hungary, increasing their dependence on government and humanitarian subsidies and assistance.

Language barriers and limited access to social protection tools further compounded the difficulties in achieving successful integration. To address these challenges, in 2023, RRP partners focused on complementing government assistance to support the socio-economic inclusion of refugees in Hungary, with efforts targeting, in particular, the most vulnerable groups.

Latvia

Situation Overview

At year’s end 2023, Latvia had received 46,000 applications or temporary protection by Ukrainian citizens. The RRP in 2023 aimed to address the needs of over 33,000 Ukrainians in Latvia who had applied for protection in Latvia.

While funding constraints did not allow all partners to fully implement their plans, at year’s end, some 23,000 individuals had received humanitarian assistance through UNHCR and its partners.

Holders of temporary protection status had access to healthcare, education, and the labour market, as well as welfare. Support to refugees from Ukraine is granted on the basis of the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians, which was first adopted in March 2022, and has been extended several times since. Recently, the Government of Latvia again decided to extend its support for refugees from Ukraine and prolonged the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians until the end of the year. The same level of assistance as in 2023 is expected in 2024. The Government further adopted an Action Plan for 2023 that specified activities and responsible actors for the implementation of the services provided to refugees from Ukraine.

The Government had allocated 102 million euros for the implementation of this Action Plan. In 2024, the allocation for the Action Plan is expected to decrease to 70 million euros. RRP required US$12 million for activities in Latvia, of which 2 per cent was unded the ear’s end Consequently, more than half of the appealing partners needed to adjust their programming due to funding gaps, with local NGOs in particular being severely affected. The sectors most affected were basic needs, protection as well as livelihood and economic inclusion.

Lithuania

Situation Overview

As of December 2023, Lithuania had received 52,300 applications for temporary protection by Ukrainian citizens.

In 2023, the inter-agency coordination platform, led by UNHCR, and comprising the 10 humanitarian partners of the Refugee Response Plan (RRP), worked together to raise funds and align their programming. The 2023 RRP required US$17.8 million for activities in Lithuania, of which 46 per cent were funded.

Several Humanitarian Aid Centres supported refugees in 2023. Such centres provided refugees from Ukraine support for their basic needs, including clothing, footwear and housing materials. These centres are also one-stop information hubs for social assistance, finding jobs and emotional support.

As the conflict in Ukraine reaches its second-year mark, and looking towards 2024, socio-economic issues have become increasingly the focus of activities of RRP partners in Lithuania.

As of the fourth quarter of 2023, around 25,778 individuals had already received humanitarian assistance. Around 15,906 individuals were provided with protection-related services, with 14,010 included in outreach activities and 839 provided with support through helplines and 96 with legal assistance.

Refugees from Ukraine had their basic needs met through food assistance, hygiene kits, blankets/shelter kits, multi-purpose cash, rental assistance and non-food items. A total of 15,550 individuals received food assistance and 16,028 were assisted with the provision of hygiene kits and first-aid kits. Cash assistance was provided to 11,415 individuals. Around 154 individuals benefitted from rental assistance and NFIs.

In the Livelihoods & Social Inclusion sector around 7,331 individuals were assisted, among whom 6,928 with integration services and 100 individuals with language training.

Republic of Moldova

Situation Overview

Since February 24, 2022, the Republic of Moldova (hereafter referred to as Moldova) has seen a total of 1,003,478 arrivals from Ukraine. As of end 2023, the number of individuals who arrived from Ukraine as well as Ukrainians who arrived over the air or from Romania and remained in Moldova totalled 129,753. Among these, 120,693 are Ukrainian refugees, accounting for 93 per cent of the total.

Most Ukrainian refugees are women and children, comprising 81 per cent of the refugee population (37 percent women, 21 percent girls, and 23 percent boys). By the end of December, out of the total population mentioned above, 36,802 people had applied for temporary protection (TP), of whom 28,369 received the status, including 8,515 children. In addition to TP holders, over 8,000 refugees from Ukraine have regularized their stay in Moldova either through the asylum system or by obtaining residence permits for work, education, or family ties.

In 2023, government efforts were supported by 73 RRP partners, including 24 national/local civil society organizations. The 2023 RRP successfully assisted over 159,091 individuals .

In line with the Global Compact for Refugees, Moldova's response has been characterized by a whole-of-society approach, supported by strong international solidarity, as evidenced by the commitments made by the Government of Moldova at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum held in Geneva.

The leadership of the Moldovan Government at all levels, together with strong support from partners and the international community, has laid the groundwork for important results, contributing not only to the protection and inclusion of refugees in the country.

Poland

Situation Overview

Amid concerns of a significant refugee influx from Ukraine in late 2022 and the early months of 2023, driven by attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and harsh weather conditions, the movements recorded did not reach levels seen during the initial escalation of the conflict in early 2022. Data from the October Protection Monitoring43 exercise highlighted that the prevalence of larger families, including single mothers with dependents, and families with members with serious medical conditions were more prevalent in the early phases of displacement, while there is a significant increase of prevalence of single adults among those who have arrived more recently.

The vast majority of refugees continue to be women and children, with a slight increase on adult men among new arrivals. Data rom Poland’s PESEL registration system indicated that over 90 per cent of refugees were women, children, and older individuals, with 37 per cent being children under 18 and 63 per cent being female.

Accommodation remained a central issue, with approximately 7% of refugees indicating that they resided in collective sites.45 Inclusion efforts, including job activation, policy changes to enable employment, access to administrative services, education, childcare, and Polish language learning, are crucial for the successful inclusion of Ukrainian refugees.

The 2023 Multi-Sectorial Needs Assessment46 revealed that 82 per cent of households reported unmet needs. Many refugee children still did not attend Polish schools, with low enrollment persisting in 2023, likely due to participation in online classes in Ukraine.

Romania

Situation Overview

Romania continued to play a pivotal role as a refugee-hosting country amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Since 24 February 2022, over 5.4 million Ukrainian refugees and third country nationals have entered Romania from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. At the end of 2023, a total of 85,710 refugees from Ukraine were present in the country and some 149,11649 refugees had obtained temporary protection (TP) status.

On 30 June 2022, the Government of Romania adopted the two-year National Plan of Measures (NPM) for the Protection and Inclusion of Displaced Persons from Ukraine and Temporary Protection Directive Beneficiaries, marking a shift from the emergency response to a longer-term protection and inclusion phase. On 12 April 2023, the Romanian Government’s 50/20 programme, which provided funds to Romanian hosts for accommodation and food for TP holders, was updated to link support to inclusion benchmarks51 and made refugees from Ukraine direct beneficiaries of the programme.

At the end of 2023, according to the Ministry of Education, nearly 72 per cent of children holding temporary protection were registered with Romanian schools and early years education and care services. However, only 28 per cent of school-aged children had acquired full pupil status, while the rest remained mainly with the transitioning status of audients, as per the Romanian legislation. Overall, only about 40 per cent of school-aged refugee children report attending Romanian schools.

Slovakia

Situation Overview

By the end of 2023, some 2 million Ukrainians and TCNs in need of international protection and assistance had crossed into Slovakia since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, with some 135,000 of them applying for temporary protection in the country, and 114,000 having been granted status and residing in the country.1 Women and children constituted close to 83 per cent of the overall displaced population.

Slovakia continued throughout 2023 to show great solidarity to those fleeing Ukraine, with all actors involved in the response, including national, district and local authorities, being active and supportive to measures and solutions for addressing the needs of refugees. Refugees from Ukraine continued to have access to Temporary Protection (TP) status, which Slovakia introduced in 2022 in line with the EU Temporary Protection Directive.

The 2023 multi-sectoral needs assessment (MSNA) highlighted the vulnerabilities and needs of refugees from Ukraine, the most commonly reported needs were healthcare services, employment and livelihood support, and language courses - representing an important change from the 2022 results, when the top three priority needs were food assistance, accommodation, and employment.

The 2023 inter-agency refugee response plan (RRP) for Slovakia brought together 28 partners in a coordinated multi-sectoral response complementing the government-led efforts, in particular in the areas of protection, GBV, child protection, education, healthcare, MHPSS and the provision of multi-purpose cash. In addition, the multi-partner response plan further promoted the socio-economic inclusion of refugees in Slovak society, including by strengthening social cohesion between refugees and their host communities.

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"A war on exhaustion": peacebuilders mark 2 years of war in Ukraine

Yet, the needs of Ukrainians have not reduced. Throughout 2023, the situation in the country has become even more extreme. Cities in five Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, Donbas and the South are still occupied. In total, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in Ukraine, 109,000 km2 and 1,877 Ukrainian cities are still under Russia’s occupation. Since the start of the war, at least 10,000 civilians have been killed and over 147,000 houses have been destroyed, amounting to $55.9 billion.

Over 14.6 million people living in Ukraine – about 40 per cent of the population – are in need of humanitarian assistance. More than 4 million people are still internally displaced across Ukraine and 3.3 million live in active conflict areas. The humanitarian needs are still high, but the funding for humanitarian activities is decreasing.

Continuing efforts of local peacebuilders

On the 11th year of the war in Donbas and the third year of full-fledged war in Ukraine, volunteers and local civil society organisations continue to risk their lives to help war-affected people across the war zones and the occupied territories, delivering assistance and bringing hope to people across the country. I spoke with local peacebuilders from Ukrainian Volunteer Center, Charisma On and Proliska to discuss their peacebuilding response activities, the key priorities and reflections on the second year of the war.

Throughout the war, the priorities of local peacebuilders scaled up and were shaped by the needs of affected Ukrainians. In 2022, this came in the form of humanitarian aid, psychosocial support and gathering resources.

In 2023, some organisations like Proliska increased their presence across the country and scaled up their activities to cover more affected people. Emergency response continues even two years in, with peacebuilders still evacuating people from dangerous areas; providing food, hygiene and medicines; helping to restore damaged houses with temporary solutions; finding shelters; and providing psychological and legal services.

Many local CSOs and volunteers have become first responders for victims of shelling, working without days off to react quickly after shelling. This causes a huge fatigue among staff and volunteers.

Now it is a war on exhaustion

Eugen Kaplin, director of Proliska, says “Now it is a war on exhaustion, local peacebuilders think how to support people during this hard time through humanitarian aid, reconciliation, mediation, psychosocial support. Everyone on this level continue to support the communities building peace.” That is what local peacebuilders can do at the moment as they cannot stop Russia from bombing Ukrainian cities and killing civilians.

Some local CSOs like Ukrainian Volunteer Service have re-focused on supporting smaller civil society organisations to engage more volunteers and organise work in small local communities.

Olena Vuzka head of national programs at Ukrainian Volunteer Centre, says, “we are used to international help, but we should remember that each of us can take part in supporting Ukraine to bring peace by, for example, by donating or even by cutting potatoes for borsch to dry and send to the militaries in the war zone, among others.”

Many peacebuilders are also providing psychosocial support to Ukrainians, as the demand remains high. According to the estimation of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, around 40-50% of Ukrainians need psychosocial support.

When the chaos lessened in 2023, Charisma On from Dnipro (centre-east of Ukraine), was one of many organisations that returned to more traditional peacebuilding work.

Charisma On began with activities focused on peace and reconciliation. These included developing mediation skills between local and displaced people in communities, building inclusive spaces, particularly for those with disabilities, and career counselling for Internally Displaced People (IDP) to help them acquire new job skills to empower people and create economic opportunities. As a result, last year many IDPs already started working and integrating with the local communities.

Irma Niniashvili, head of Charisma On, said, “we are motivated by the heroic stories of guys in the frontline. That does not allow me to give up. Also, I start every morning with a donation. Already 2 years of war flew away unnoticed.”

Shrinking funding

However, 2023 saw a change to funding for local peacebuilders. They were affected by numerous challenges, including budget cuts by donors, while some newer peacebuilding organisations lack experience in preparing donor proposals and bureaucracy. Overall, funding significantly decreased in 2023. The need is high across all of Ukraine but donors primarily give funding for peacebuilding activities mostly for the front-line areas, so CSOs have been forced to focus only on the East and South of Ukraine.

According to Humanitarian Response Plan-2024, in 2024 CSOs with financial support of donors will continue prioritising strengthening communities’ resilience and carrying out community-based protection interventions. These include conflict resolution activities, aimed at addressing emerging tensions and disputes among different war-affected population groups over access to public services, the provision of financial resources, labour markets and humanitarian assistance, and promoting better integration of internally displaced people in areas of displacement and of returnees upon return.

Conclusion

After 2 years of full-fledged war, Ukrainians, peacebuilders, volunteers and donors are exhausted. It is made worse by the reduction in funding, the corruption scandals in Ukraine and challenges to conduct the Presidential elections in Ukraine in 2024.

Continuous support from Western partners is critical in 2024. As the war in Ukraine is protracting, it is likely that their focus will be further disturbed with other wars and conflicts as well as internal political processes in the countries, such as the US Presidential elections.

Local peacebuilders and volunteers are still motivated to support affected Ukrainians despite the tiredness, sleepless nights. They continue helping affected Ukrainians non-stop, donating to the army’s and people’s needs in order to bring Ukraine closer to the victory.

Source: Peace Insight

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Overview of the ICRC’s response two years after the escalation of the armed conflict

As we mark two years since the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict, people affected by ongoing hostilities share stories of resilience, despite the profound impact on their lives, including significant losses, widespread displacement and extensive damage to critical infrastructure.

The large-scale escalation in the armed conflict comes on top of nearly ten years of protracted hostilities in Donetsk and Luhansk with important humanitarian consequences including people killed, injured or missing.

Since 24 February 2022, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has posted over 900 staff throughout Ukraine to help communities build the strength and capacity to recover and with the aim of minimizing the conflict's current and future impacts.

We have provided a range of emergency services over the last two years, for people living on the frontline, including distribution of food, water and other essential items. We have supplied health-care facilities with equipment and resources to improve their emergency preparedness and meet increased demand. Repairing water stations and assisting in the reconstruction of damaged homes have also been critical components of our response strategy.

Promoting compliance with international humanitarian law is another essential part of our response, to preserve the safety, physical integrity and dignity of those affected by the conflict, including civilians, prisoners of war, separated families and deceased or missing persons.

Thousands of families have received information about detained or missing relatives thanks to collaboration between the ICRC Central Tracing Agency Bureau and the National Information Bureaus of Russia and Ukraine, although more remains to be done. The ICRC has also taken part, as a neutral intermediary, in the repatriation of the remains of hundreds of fallen Ukrainian and Russian soldiers in coordination with relevant authorities on both sides.

Since February 2022, we have visited almost 2,400 prisoners of war on both sides and have shared news and updates directly with thousands of families. We continue to push for access to all prisoners of war through bilateral dialogue.

Working alongside our partners from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, we have brought help to vast numbers of people who need it in Ukraine, neighbouring countries, and other places where people have sought refuge. In total, the Movement has brought humanitarian assistance to over 11.6 million people. That response was made possible by more than 129,000 volunteers and the staff of 58 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The humanitarian crisis which is affecting people in Ukraine and those living along the frontline is complex and will require continued collaboration and effort and a sustained engagement from the ICRC and partners from the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Ukraine will remain the ICRC's largest operation in 2024. Two years on, we are committed to continuing our dialogue with the two parties and Third States to strengthen compliance with the Geneva Conventions, alleviating the suffering of those most affected by the conflict – be they civilians, prisoners of war or wounded soldiers –, working towards the safeguard of their dignity and fostering the resilience of affected communities.

Source: ICRC

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Still Waiting for the Sky to Close: Women's Organizations at the Frontline of the Ukrainian Crisis Two Years On

The report Still Waiting for the Sky to Close: Women's Organizations at the Frontline of the Ukrainian Crisis Two Years On examines the impact of Russia's war on Ukraine on the women's rights organizations that have been crucial to the humanitarian response throughout the region.

Based on a survey of 78 women’s organizations working in Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, and Romania, it highlights how a lack of adequate resourcing and support has put immense pressure on many women’s rights organizations, many of whom are concerned about their capacity to continue supporting women and vulnerable populations from their communities in addition to those displaced by the war. It also highlights continued critical service gaps for those displaced, including housing, economic support and gender-based violence service.

Sources: HIAS, VOICE

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Second Year of War in Ukraine: Caritas Prepares Long-Term Plans

Two years after the beginning of the war and nearly a decade after the conflict in the east of the country, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate and will not improve if hostilities do not stop. This is the picture described by the two local Caritas organisations – Caritas Ukraine and Caritas-Spes Ukraine – on the second-year mark of the large-scale invasion that began February 24th two years ago.

Supported by the entire Caritas Internationalis Confederation, and thanks to more than 2,600 staff and volunteers, the two organisations have provided humanitarian assistance to more than 3.8 million people over the past two years. The assistance included providing food and non-food items, shelter, health and hygiene items, cash assistance, health and psychosocial support services, protection and education programmes. “Since the beginning of the war, Caritas Ukraine and Caritas-Spes Ukraine have been exemplary in their work, caring for their people in their entirety throughout the war. They are Caritas at its best and our Confederation is grateful to them. We will continue to support them and raise our voices urging this conflict to end,” said Alistair Dutton, Caritas Internationalis’ Secretary General.

Unfortunately, the second year of the conflict was marked by escalating hostilities and fighting. Strikes hitting civilian infrastructure and major incidents, including the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine in June, led to a deterioration of the humanitarian situation in regions where people already face acute needs. Forty per cent of the population needs humanitarian assistance, and more than 6 million Ukrainians have been refugees. In the east and south, including the territories under the temporary control of the Russian Federation, millions do not have adequate water, food, health care, housing, protection and other essential services and supplies.

With devastating consequences for what was once Europe’s granary, the conflict has also had a dramatic environmental impact. Water and soil are contaminated, and experts predict it will require over 700 years to clear the land of mines alone.

Caritas organisations are preparing a long-term response plan despite the difficulties and uncertainties caused by the protracted conflict. “According to experts, the war could last a decade. We need to be ready to provide long-term assistance to address the significant humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, which ultimately affects the global community,” stated Fr. Vyacheslav Grynevych SAC, Executive Director Caritas-Spes Ukraine.

“We are doing everything possible to assist people in need, but until the hostilities stop and the occupied territories are liberated, we cannot talk about real recovery. Caritas Ukraine assists people in their current situation, where they survive, and we consider various scenarios of the development of the situation in a comprehensive approach for each individual,” said Tetiana Stawnychy, President of Caritas Ukraine.

On this sombre anniversary, Caritas launches a new appeal asking the international community to continue helping its work for the Ukrainian people. “Your support gives us hope that we are not alone and allows us to help people in need. So please continue to stand with Ukraine,” added Stawnychy.

“We extend our gratitude to our benefactors and partners who help us carry the cross of service in times of war, just as Simon of Cyrene helped carry the cross of Jesus Christ. We have already completed 730 stations of our Way of the Cross, 730 days of war, but how many more are ahead?” said Fr. Grynevych.

Source: Caritas

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Trócaire’s Continued Response to War in Ukraine

Two years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Trócaire continues its vital support, reaching over 3.8 million people alongside our partners.

Saturday (24th) marks the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The war continues to cause widespread destruction, destroying lives and livelihoods, further decimating essential services, and compounding an already grave humanitarian crisis.

According to UNOCHA, there are over 17.6 million people in need, with 3.6 million internally displaced and 5.97 million refugees in European countries. Since the beginning of the war, 10,233 civilians have been killed and almost 20,000 injured.

Trócaire has been supporting partner organisations (Caritas Ukraine and Caritas Spes Ukraine) to help vulnerable people meet their basic needs. Two years into the conflict, Trócaire has reached over 3.8 million people. Caritas Spes Ukraine (CSU) has provided life-saving humanitarian assistance to displaced families affected by the conflict. They run 54 different aid centers across the country including frontline zones. Since the beginning of 2023, CSU has reached 362,145 people, totalling more than 1.1 million reached since the invasion in February 2022.

Trócaire is also working on a programme supported by Irish Aid, to build the capacity of Caritas Spes to respond to the crisis. This project will ensure that more vulnerable households meet their basic needs, access basic services and receive psychological and social supports.

Caritas Ukraine, since the start of the crisis, have supported over 3.1 million people. Thanks to the support of the Caritas confederation, the Caritas Ukraine Network has responded to the crisis through 46 caritas centers, with a total of 1186 Parishes working on various programmes.

The current programme, supported by Trócaire provides emergency livelihoods support to conflict-affected communities. This project aims to ensure that vulnerable people have access to temporary income through financial and training support for micro and small businesses. This enables people to earn an income to support themselves and their families.

Conditions in Ukraine continue to be extremely difficult, with over 14 million citizens in need of humanitarian aid. In particular, Caritas-Spes Ukraine expresses its concern about the contamination of many water sources, soil and ecosystems. Moreover, nearly 3.3 million people in need of aid live in front-line communities in the east and south. In these regions, millions struggle to have adequate access to water, food, health, housing, protection and other essential services.

Trocaire with its partners will continue to support and work with these communities as the conflict enters its third year.

Source: Trócaire

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FCA’s work continues in Ukraine and expands to vocational education and training

In two years, the war has damaged 3,428 educational institutions and destroyed 365 schools in Ukraine. Over the past two years, Finn Church Aid has supported the schooling of Ukrainian children and young people, for example by providing shelters and schools in Ukraine and psychosocial support.

The work continues in schools such as those set up in Kharkiv metro stations 24TH FEBRUARY marks two years since the start of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. The war has affected the lives of 7 million Ukrainian children and young people. In total, 3,428 schools and other educational institutions in Ukraine have been damaged and 365 have been destroyed beyond repair in the last two years (Source).

Finn Church Aid’s (FCA) humanitarian aid mission in Ukraine began shortly after the war broke out. Work is ongoing, particularly to safeguard education. FCA’s work in Ukraine includes building and equipping bomb shelters to protect education even during air raids, strengthening the skills of education professionals and psychosocial support for children, and supporting digital learning opportunities.

“Over the past two years, we have laid the foundations and built the networks to be known in Ukraine as a supporter of education,” said Ikali Karvinen, FCA’s Deputy Executive Director, who visited FCA’s areas of operation in Ukraine in early February.

Schooling in the middle of war requires special solutions such as underground metro schools.

In Kharkiv, for example, the FCA has been working hard to ensure that more children have access to psychosocial support. In addition, the FCA has supported the underground metro school, which was established in autumn 2023. Kharkiv, in the east of Ukraine, has been the target of constant aerial bombardment since the beginning of the war, making it impossible to attend school under normal conditions.

The Kharkiv metro school now operates in two shifts. However, the metro school, with over a thousand pupils, is only a first aid measure in a situation where 110,000 children and young people from Kharkiv are enrolled in primary education.

Access to classroom teaching is particularly important for young pupils. 6-year-old Yulia Yurova is one of the first to start school thanks to the metro school.

“I’m happy that my child was able to start local education from the first grade. It’s much more than I could give her as a mother in home education. My child is talkative and likes to be with other children. She is always eager to go to school,” says Natalia Yurova, mother of Julia.

According to the authorities, only about half of children and young people in Kharkiv attend school, which, with the exception of the metro school, is mainly distance learning. Many families in Kharkiv have been forced to flee abroad or to other parts of Ukraine, cutting off schooling for months or even years.

FCA’s work extends to vocational education and training

According to Deputy Executive Director Karvinen, work will continue in the long term in existing and new geographical areas. In Ukraine, FCA works in regions such as Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr and Kyiv.

“We will continue our work to ensure that children’s right to education is fulfilled and that schools have access to the necessary educational equipment and safe facilities,” says Karvinen.

According to Karvinen, digital learning environments will be particularly important in the future. FCA has extended its work from basic education to vocational education and training.

“We are particularly interested in cooperation between companies and educational institutions,” says Karvinen.

Supporting education in a crisis context has two simultaneous objectives. Schools create a safe space for children to learn, deal with emotions and connect with other people. They also serve as a starting point for reconstruction.

“Only educated children and young people will be able to support society later on in the huge reconstruction needs that Ukraine will face as a result of the war,” says Karvinen.

“School creates hope both for today and for the distant future. An educated child is the engine that will help society change and overcome the crisis.”

Note: To access this information, take a photo of the QR code on your mobile phone and tap the QR code. It will lead you to the link which is an interactive map of the data on the number of schools that have been damaged and destroyed at the raion level.

Source: FCA

As 2 years of war in Ukraine take a toll, sisters remain a steady, welcome presence

As the winds drew closer to the southeastern Ukrainian village of Preobrazhenka on a clear, cloudless afternoon earlier this month, so did the sounds of artillery bombardments.

The noise, coming from Ukrainian forces on the frontline about 5 miles away, did not faze the residents of the small village. They have grown accustomed to the steady din after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022 — two years marked by terror and resignation, displacement and loss.

"We can't plan anything," said Inna Sirinok, 52, a teacher who lives with her husband, Yurii, 55, with friends in another village because the couple's home was destroyed in a series of bombardments in 2023. "Now we live in fear, scared all of the time."

These are among the poorest of Ukrainians — rural folk who survive tending small plots of land and gardens, raising cows and chickens. Their roads are unpaved and muddy. They remain where they are because they see no alternative but to stay put and hope for the best — that the war will end, that the sound of shelling and bombardments from the Russian side will stop.

A source of hope is made tangible by the presence of the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great, who continue to visit Preobrazhenka and other nearby villages at least once a month — though not as frequently now as during the first year of the war, when the sisters were flush with donated humanitarian aid they distributed.

But the sisters, who live in the city of Zaporizhzhia, about 40 miles north of the village, remain a steady, welcome presence at a time when Ukrainians in poor villages like Preobrazhenka speak of the importance of not being ignored. Ukrainians of all locales, in small villages and large cities alike, are worried that the world at large — preoccupied by other global events, such as the war in Gaza — is forgetting their cause.

A 'hole in everyone's hearts'

The persistent hope that, ultimately, Ukraine will prevail in the war remains undiminished among many Ukrainians who spoke in interviews recently to Global Sisters Report — some of whom were interviewed in 2023.

But there is recognition that the war has taken a toll in the last year and that the stalemate on the front is being keenly felt — as is concern that support from the West, and in the United States in particular, for the Ukrainian cause may wane.

"This war has put a huge hole in everybody's hearts," said Sr. Yanuariya Isyk, a 53-year-old St. Basil sister, whose ministry is based in the capital. "But I am grateful for the countries who still believe in us."

"It's been a difficult year," acknowledged Dominican Fr. Petro Balog, 46, who heads the Institute of Religious Sciences of St. Thomas Aquinas in Kyiv. "I think many people — not all, but many — are feeling pessimistic right now."

The hope that Ukraine could defeat the Russian forces and even recapture the 1991 borders it shared with Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union is being tempered now with the recognition that, despite an initial poor showing by Russia in early 2022, its military remains a formidable force. (This was reconfirmed this week by news of a Ukrainian retreat from the eastern city of Avdiivka.)

Tetiana Stawnychy, the president of Caritas Ukraine, noted, "The war has gone through different dynamics over the two years."

"In the beginning, it was shock, and then there was this resolve to do everything that we could to respond, a kind of a 'no-regrets' approach to respond to that huge number of people who were fleeing in the beginning."

Refugees in Croatia

In the meantime, the arrival of refugees has changed the face of many countries, especially those once in the Soviet Union's orbit.

In Croatia, once part of the former Yugoslavia, it is believed that more than 22,000 Ukrainians had entered the country by the end of 2022 — though it is possible that many left the country for other destinations, said Stanko Perica, the regional director for Jesuit Refugee Service based in the Croatian capital of Zagreb. He estimates that perhaps 10,000 Ukrainians remain in Croatia.

Provincial Superior M. Andrijana Mirčeta, 69, and Sr. Marija Blaga Bunčuga, a former general superior, 71, said when the Croatian Bishops' Conference asked for the country's religious communities to open their doors to arriving refugees, it was an easy decision. The congregation had the space in its Split convent, and members prayed and discerned that this was something that St. Vincent de Paul, whose charism the congregation follows, would surely want.

A look toward the future

If looking back at other European wars is part of the story of the last two years, so is looking toward the future — a future that all hope will be brighter and more secure than it is now.

Already some are working to heal society's wounds.

Mykola Vouchenko, a therapist and psychologist, heads a Kyiv-based organization helping returning veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder and are making the adjustment to civilian life. He said that such work will expand in coming years with a greater number of veterans returning to their former lives.

Ukrainian society has a chance "to build a better country" by welcoming former combatants "back from hell" and creating an atmosphere so that they can become well-adjusted citizens, Vouchenko said.

Similarly, Sr. Anna Andrusiv, 35, whose ministry as a Sister of St. Basil the Great moved in 2023 from the western city of Lviv to the capital of Kyiv, said her congregation recently purchased a three-story residence in northwest Kyiv in hopes of turning it into a monastery for the sisters, and also a rehabilitation center for the wounded, a center for soldiers and their families, especially children.

In Preobrazhenka, thoughts turn to God but also commingle with the earthbound realities of survival and fear. As the sound of daily bombardments continue, families like the Sirinoks wonder what the future holds.

Their comfort comes from the regular encounters with the St. Basil sisters, whose hugs and embraces, the villagers say, in some ways are more important than the aid they bring. In such encounters, the burdens of life are lifted, if even for just a moment.

Still, the villagers acknowledge that at times conditions can be almost too much to bear.

Such heartbreak is widespread, said Stawnychy of Caritas, noting that in Ukraine, a cornerstone of a family's safety net is owning a home, whether in a city or a village like Preobrazhenka.

There may be some 2 million homes destroyed in Ukraine now, she said. "That's a huge number of people whose security net has been somehow attacked or ripped out from under them."

As it got windier that afternoon in Preobrazhenka, the bombardments got louder — but the villagers seemed to take it all in stride.

"We always pray," Inna said, "and trust in God."

Source: NCR

STATUS OF THE CONFLICT

Two-Year Update - Protection of civilians: impact of hostilities on civilians since 24 February 2022

Overall civilian casualties

Since 24 February 2022, conflict-related violence in Ukraine has killed at least 10,582 civilians and injured 19,875 (30,457 total civilian casualties). This number includes 587 killed and 1,298 injured children (1,885 child casualties).2 Of the adults, men were disproportionally affected, accounting for 60 per cent of the casualties.

Civilian casualty numbers were particularly high during the first few months after the armed attack, with thousands of civilians killed and injured per month. While the numbers gradually decreased over the course of 2022 and 2023, they remained high, with an average of 163 civilians killed and 547 injured per month in 2023.

In terms of cause of death or injury, the vast majority of civilian casualties (91 per cent) were caused by explosive weapons with wide area effects. Mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) accounted for 3.7 per cent, while other weapons and incidents accounted for the remainder.

Explosive weapons with wide area effects

In the two-year period, 8,898 civilians were killed and 18,818 injured by explosive weapons with wide area effects. The weapon types that caused the most casualties included shelling from artillery, tanks and multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), cruise and ballistic missiles (air, sea and land-based), and air strikes, including loitering munitions and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Most of the casualties from explosive weapons with wide area effects (78 per cent) occurred near the frontline. A significant number of casualties, however, occurred across the country far from the frontline. The use of long-range missiles and loitering munitions against targets across the country by the Russian Federation left virtually no place in the country entirely safe from the hostilities.

Civilian casualties from artillery, MLRS, and other weapons near the frontline since February 2022 (by oblast)

Mines and explosive remnants of war

Mines and explosive remnants of war killed 343 civilians and injured 769 in the two-year period, the majority of which occurred in areas after the frontline moved.

Kharkiv and Kherson regions saw some of the highest civilian casualty numbers from mines and ERW in spring 2023 following the retreat of Russian armed forces from those areas as civilians started working their land with tractors, walked or drove in forests or other rural areas, repaired roads or tried to demine a contaminated site.

Damage to civilian infrastructure

In the two-year period, attacks with explosive weapons damaged or destroyed hundreds of educational and medical facilities. HRMMU has recorded that hostilities affected 1,072 educational facilities (236 destroyed and 836 damaged) and 465 medical facilities (59 destroyed and 406 damaged) since 24 February 2022.

The actual extent of civilian harm – both casualties and infrastructure damage – is likely considerably higher as many reports of civilian harm, particularly from the period immediately after the full-scale armed attack, have not been possible to verify due to the large number of reports and the lack of access to relevant areas. The number of civilian casualties is likely particularly undercounted in cities where there was protracted intensive fighting at the start of the armed attack in 2022 – such as Mariupol (Donetsk region), Lysychansk, Popasna, and Sievierodonetsk (Luhansk region).

Source: ONCHR

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After 2 years of war, questions abound on whether Kyiv can sustain the fight against Russia

The future looks bleak for war-weary Ukraine: It is beset by shortages in soldiers and ammunition, as well as doubts about the supply of Western aid. Ukrainian forces also face a Russian enemy that has recently seized the initiative on the battlefield.

Two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion captured nearly a quarter of the country, the stakes could not be higher for Kyiv. After a string of victories in the first year of the war, fortunes have turned for the Ukrainian military, which is dug in, outgunned and outnumbered against a more powerful opponent.

As the war enters its third year, here is a look at the situation on the ground, the challenges ahead and some of the potential consequences if Ukraine does not acquire the people, ammunition and assistance it needs to sustain the fight.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF PLAY?

Triumphs have turned to attrition for Ukraine along the snaking front line in the country’s east. With Russia gaining advantages, shortages mounting and a major military shake-up still fresh, questions abound about whether Kyiv can keep going.

“As things stand, neither side has won. Neither side has lost. Neither side is anywhere near giving up. And both sides have pretty much exhausted the manpower and equipment that they started the war with,” said Gen. Richard Barrons, a British military officer who is co-chair of a defense consultancy.

Ukraine suffered setbacks after the much-anticipated summer counteroffensive failed to produce any breakthroughs. The armed forces switched to a defensive posture in the fall to repel new advances from Moscow.

On Feb. 17, Russian forces took control of the embattled city of Avdiivka, where Kyiv’s troops were under constant fire with Russians approaching from three directions. Ukrainian commanders had complained for weeks of personnel and ammunition shortages. It was the biggest battlefield victory for Russia since the fight for Bakhmut, and it confirmed that Moscow’s offensive was gaining steam.

Away from the battlefield, Ukraine has proven successful in the Black Sea, where it has used long-range weapons to strike military installations in Crimea and maritime drones to sink Russian warships. Ukraine has disabled a third of the Black Sea Fleet, according to the Atlantic Council.

Ukraine is looking to acquire more long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian-occupied territory, a move that some European countries fear may spark escalation from Moscow.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED?

Both Russia and Ukraine have sought to keep casualty figures under wraps.

Few details about Ukrainian military deaths have emerged since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. But it’s clear that tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed.

In 2023, the first independent statistical analysis of Russia’s war dead concluded that nearly 50,000 Russian men had died in the war. Two independent Russian media outlets, Mediazona and Meduza, worked with a data scientist from Germany’s Tübingen University to analyze Russian government data.

WHAT HAPPENS IF UKRAINE CAN’T FIND MORE TROOPS?

Without more soldiers, Ukraine’s defensive lines will be overstretched and more vulnerable to Russian attack, especially if Moscow launches intense multi-pronged assaults along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line.

The Ukrainian military has an average personnel shortage of 25% across brigades, according to lawmakers. Military commanders are unable to give their soldiers enough rest, and Russia has recently increased the tempo of attacks. As a result, soldiers are tired — and more easily injured — exacerbating the effects of the shortage.

Ukraine’s military command has said 450,000 to 500,000 additional recruits are needed for the next phase of the war. Even if Ukraine succeeds in mobilizing that number, which is unlikely, it still would not be able to match the manpower of Russia, which has more than three times Ukraine’s population.

Lawmakers have spent months mulling over a controversial proposal to increase the conscription pool, as many Ukrainian men continue to evade the war in Ukrainian cities.

Commanders say they don’t have enough men to dig trenches or carry out offensive operations. Shortages have also required them to switch tactics and focus on preserving the lives of the soldiers they do have, sometimes at the expense of holding territory.

WHAT ABOUT WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION?

If they continue, ammunition shortages will jeopardize Ukraine’s ability to hold territory and keep soldiers alive.

Military leaders appear to be rationing shells, sending trickles of ammunition to firing positions to preserve stockpiles, while promises for more ammunition from Western allies have gone unfulfilled. The European Union failed on its promise to deliver 1 million rounds by the start of the year, delivering only a few hundred thousand.

At the same time, Russia is mobilizing its defense industry and may soon be able to fire 5,000 artillery rounds a day, Barrons said. Ukraine is building up its domestic arms production but will not be able to match Moscow in scale in the short-term.

Military commanders have complained for months of ammunition shortages for infantry fighting vehicles, machine guns, artillery and multiple rocket launch systems. Those shortages grew particularly acute by the end of 2023, with some artillery commanders saying they can meet only 10% of ammunition needs.

Commanders say long-range artillery in particular serves two important purposes: First, it acts as a protective umbrella to cover infantry, allowing them to hold territory and prepare for offensive operations. Second, by striking Russian troops and heavy weaponry from a distance, artillery prevents planned assaults by seriously degrading Moscow’s capabilities.

Without it, Ukraine will increasingly come under the pressure of Russia’s relentless artillery barrages. Commanders say their soldiers have no choice but to dig in deeper to hold their lines.

IS WESTERN SUPPORT WANING, AND WHAT IF IT DOES?

Ukraine is reliant on Western allies and international organizations not just for military aid but also for financial support and humanitarian help.

Without Western assistance, Ukraine will not have the weapons, ammunition and training it needs to sustain the war effort, nor will it be able to keep its battered economy afloat or reach Ukrainians trapped in the crossfire of battles.

Between divisions about the future of aid within the EU and $60 billion in military aid languishing in the United States Congress, Western countries have not been as forthcoming with money this year.

Kyiv breathed a sigh of relief in February when the EU approved extending a 50-billion-euro ($54-billion) aid package for Ukraine after resistance from Hungary. That money is meant to support the economy and rebuild the country, not to fight Russia.

But it’s the U.S. funding that many Ukrainian leaders are waiting for. The funds will enable Ukraine to purchase weapons and equipment from American firms, access more military training and intelligence sharing, and bolster air and sea defenses. The money will also provide direct budget support for Kyiv.

Ukrainian leaders also need Western help to cover the salaries of public servants and medical workers.

On the humanitarian side, the United Nations and its partner agencies said if an appeal for $3.1 billion in new funding for the year is not fulfilled, the U.N. won’t be able to meet the basic needs of 8.5 million Ukrainians living on the front line.

Source: AP News

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Russia’s forces turn their focus on Ukraine’s northeast in what may be an ambitious new push

Russian forces are probing Ukrainian defenses for weak points in the country’s northeast, an official said Thursday, an area where analysts believe the Kremlin seeks to build on its recent success in taking a key city by mounting an ambitious four-pronged offensive to break through the front line.

Russia overwhelmed Ukraine’s army in Adviidka, a strategic eastern city, where it brought to bear its significant battlefield advantage in men, aircraft and artillery. Emboldened by its first major triumph in the war in nine months, Moscow appears determined to leverage its superiority as it shifts its economy onto a war footing.

Kyiv officials have pleaded with Ukraine’s Western partners to accelerate delivery of military aid so its forces can hold out against the onslaught. The front line running more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) across eastern and southern Ukraine has not shifted much in the run-up to the war’s two-year anniversary on Feb. 24.

Moscow’s troops are driving forward around Lyman and Kupiansk, in the Kharkiv region that borders Russia, ignoring casualties or equipment losses, according to Illia Yevlash, spokesperson for the operational group overseeing the eastern front line.

The Russians are attacking in strength along four parallel axes in the northeast, “likely reflective of a wider operational objective and higher-level operational planning,” the Institute for the Study of War said.

Russia’s longer-term goal with the coordinated — and probably monthslong — offensive could be to prepare a platform for pressing deeper intro the Ukraine-held western part of the Donetsk region and also penetrating into the Kharkiv region north of it, the Washington-based think tank said late Wednesday.

But it noted that Russia is replenishing its losses with poorly trained troops and that its forces likely can’t advance quickly enough to surround pockets of Ukrainian defenders.

In other developments:

The Ukrainian armed forces claimed to have struck a Russian military training ground behind the front line, in the partly occupied Kherson region. Around 60 Russian soldiers were killed, according to Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command.

Also, Security Service of Ukraine, known as SBU, said it found evidence Russia is using Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles from North Korea. More than 20 of the missiles have been used in attacks on Ukraine, it said.

Source: AP News

STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

Zelenskyy hosts Western leaders in Kyiv as Ukraine marks 2 years since Russia’s full-scale invasion

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Western leaders to Kyiv Saturday to mark the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, as Ukrainian forces run low on ammunition and weaponry and foreign aid hangs in the balance.

Zelenskyy posted a video from the Hostomel airfield together with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The Western leaders arrived shortly after a Russian drone attack struck a residential building in the southern city of Odesa, killing at least one person. Three women also sustained severe burns in the attack Friday evening, regional Gov. Oleh Kiper wrote on his social media account. Rescue services combed through the rubble looking for survivors.

Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven leading economies, announced that the G7 will meet virtually on Saturday with Zelenskyy and would adopt a joint statement on Ukraine.

“More than ever we stand firmly by Ukraine. Financially, economically, militarily, morally. Until the country is finally free,” von der Leyen said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven leading economies, announced that the G7 will meet virtually on Saturday with Zelenskyy and would adopt a joint statement on Ukraine.

“More than ever we stand firmly by Ukraine. Financially, economically, militarily, morally. Until the country is finally free,” von der Leyen said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Russia still controls roughly a quarter of the country after Ukraine failed to make any major breakthroughs with its summertime counteroffensive. Meanwhile, millions of Ukrainians continue to live in precarious circumstances in the crossfire of battles, and many others face constant struggles under Russian occupation. Most are waiting for a Ukrainian liberation that hasn’t come.

Britain has pledged an additional 8.5 million pounds ($10.8 million) of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, bolstering efforts to provide medical care, food and basic services to residents as the nation marks the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

About 14.6 million people, or 40% of Ukraine’s population, need assistance, with many left homeless or without adequate access to food, water and electricity, Britain’s Foreign Office said in announcing the aid.

Source: AP News

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Explainer: What are the security deals Ukraine is discussing with allies?

Denmark became the latest NATO member to sign a 10-year agreement on security cooperation with Ukraine on Friday, the eve of the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Italy and the Netherlands said they were planning to sign soon.

WHAT ARE THESE SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS?

The Group of Seven wealthy nations signed a joint declaration at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July last year committing to establish "long-term security commitments and arrangements" with Ukraine that would be negotiated bilaterally.

The deals would promise continued provision of military and security aid, support to develop Ukraine's defence industrial base, training Ukrainian soldiers, intelligence-sharing and cooperation, and support for cyber defence.

The sides would also immediately hold consultations with Kyiv to determine "appropriate next steps" in the event of a "future Russian armed attack".

More than 30 countries have since signed the declaration.

WOULD THIS BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP?

Kyiv says the arrangements should contain important and concrete security commitments, but that the agreements would in no way to replace its strategic goal of joining NATO. The Western alliance regards any attack launched on one of its 31 members as an attack on all under its Article Five clause.

"There has been speculation that by concluding enough of these agreements, we do not need membership. False. We need NATO membership," said Ihor Zhovkva, the Ukrainian president's foreign affairs adviser.

WHO HAS SIGNED DEALS SO FAR?

Germany and France signed agreements on security commitments with Ukraine when President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Berlin and Paris earlier this month.

Britain in January became the first country to sign one of the security agreements with Ukraine for a term of 10 years, by which time Kyiv hopes to be inside NATO.

London said the deal formalised a range of support that it "has been and will continue to provide for Ukraine's security, including intelligence-sharing, cyber security, medical and military training, and defence industrial cooperation".

WHICH OTHER COUNTRIES ARE SET TO SIGN DEALS?

Ukraine has held at least two rounds of talks on the agreements with all the G7 countries, Zhovkva said.

More than 10 countries are in the active stage of talks or potentially starting soon, he added. The additional countries include Romania, Poland and the Netherlands.

The Netherlands said on Friday it would soon sign a 10-year security deal with Ukraine for continued military support, help in reconstruction and the improvement of its cyberdefences.

"Without Western support, Ukraine as we know it will cease to exist," Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot said. "The Russian threat will move closer, putting pressure on the stability and safety of our continent."

WHAT DOES UKRAINE WANT FROM THE DEALS?

Ukraine's Zhovkva singled out as "very important" the provision in the British deal under which consultations could be held within 24 hours to provide swift and sustained aid.

This, he said, went beyond the "infamous" 1994 Budapest Memorandum under which Ukraine was provided with security "assurances" by Britain, Russia and the United States in return for relinquishing nuclear weapons from its territory.

"We do not want to repeat the infamous experience of the Budapest declaration, which remained just a declaration," he said.

Zhovkva said there was no need for Ukraine to rush to agree deals. "I don't need 10 or 15 agreements concluded within one week. Rather, I would have this same 10 or 15 agreements deeply thought over, well-negotiated and with concrete signs of long-term and varied support for Ukraine."

Source: Reuters

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US and EU pile new sanctions on Russia for the Ukraine war’s 2nd anniversary and Navalny’s death

The United States and European Union on Friday heaped hundreds of new sanctions on Russia in connection with the second anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine and in retaliation for the death of noted Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny last week in an Arctic penal colony.

The U.S. government imposed roughly 600 new sanctions on Russia and its war machine in the largest single round of penalties since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

The EU, for its part, added sanctions on several foreign companies over allegations that they have exported dual-use goods to Russia that could be used in its war against Ukraine. The 27-nation bloc also targeted scores of Russian officials, including members of the judiciary, local politicians and people it said were “responsible for the illegal deportation and military re-education of Ukrainian children.”

President Joe Biden said the sanctions come in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “brutal war of conquest” and to Navalny’s death, adding that “we in the United States are going to continue to ensure that Putin pays a price for his aggression abroad and repression at home.”

But while previous sanctions have increased costs for Russia’s ability to fight in Ukraine, they appear to have done little so far to deter Putin and it was unclear that the latest big round would significantly alter that.

In specific response to Navalny’s death, the State Department targeted three Russian officials the U.S. says are connected to his death, including the deputy director of Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service, who was promoted by Putin to the rank of colonel general on Monday, three days after Navalny died.

The sanctions bar the officials from traveling to the U.S. and block access to U.S.-owned property. But they appear largely symbolic given that the officials are unlikely to travel to or have assets or family in the West.

Many of the new U.S. sanctions announced Friday target Russian firms that contribute to the Kremlin’s war effort — like drone and industrial chemical manufacturers and machine tool importers — as well as financial institutions, such as the state-owned operator of Russia’s Mir National Payment System.

he U.S. also will impose visa restrictions on Russian authorities it says are involved in the kidnapping and confinement of Ukrainian children. In addition, 26 third-country people and firms from across China, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, and Liechtenstein are listed for sanctions, for assisting Russia in evading existing financial penalties.

The Russian foreign ministry called the EU sanctions “illegal” and said they undermine “the international legal prerogatives of the UN Security Council.” In response, the ministry is banning some EU citizens from entering the country because they have provided military assistance to Ukraine. It did not immediately address the U.S. sanctions.

Overall, since the start of the war, the U.S. Treasury and State departments have targeted more than 4,000 officials, oligarchs, firms, banks and others under Russia-related sanctions authorities. The EU asset freezes and travel bans constitute its 13th package of measures imposed by the bloc against people and organizations it suspects of undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

In all, 106 more officials and 88 “entities” — often companies, banks, government agencies or other organizations — have been added to the bloc’s sanctions list, bringing the tally of those targeted to more than 2,000 people and entities, including Putin and his associates.

Companies making electronic components, which the EU believes could have military as well as civilian uses, were among 27 entities accused of “directly supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex in its war of aggression against Ukraine,” a statement said.

Those companies — some of them based in India, Sri Lanka, China, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Turkey — face tougher export restrictions.

Some of the measures are aimed at depriving Russia of parts for pilotless drones, which are seen by military experts as key to the war.

A $60 per barrel price cap has also been imposed on Russian oil by Group of Seven allies, intended to reduce Russia’s revenues from fossil fuels.

Critics of the sanctions, price cap and other measures meant to stop Russia’s invasion say they are not working fast enough.

Source: AP News

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So many sanctions on Russia. How much impact do they really have?

So many sanctions. Once again, the United States, United Kingdom and European Union are hitting Russia with a new wave of sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. This time, they come in response to the death of noted Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic penal colony last week.

With Friday’s latest round of sanctions — landing one day before the second anniversary of the war — the U.S. has targeted more than 4,000 officials, oligarchs, firms, banks and others. The EU has targeted more than 2,000 people and entities, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and his associates.

What is the main thrust of the new sanctions?

The latest sanctions focus on people and firms connected to Russia’s weapons manufacturing, finance and import sectors. They also target three officials that Western leaders say were involved in the death of Navalny and others they hold responsible for kidnapping and reeducating Ukrainian children.

Many of the new sanctions target Russian firms that contribute to the Kremlin’s war effort — everything from drone and industrial chemical manufacturers to machine tool importers. The EU is also targeting foreign firms that officials say have exported dual-use goods to Russia that could be used in the war.

The sanctions on people block their access to property in the U.S. and other countries that target them and their ability to travel and do business in the West. They also punish those who do business with sanctioned people or companies.

How do the sanctions relate to Navalny’s death?

The U.S. State Department is targeting three Russian officials it says are connected to Navalny’s death. These include the deputy director of Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service, who was promoted by Putin to the rank of colonel general on Monday, three days after Navalny died.

The sanctions bar the three men from traveling to the U.S. and block access to U.S.-owned property. But it’s unlikely they travel to or have assets or family in the West, which makes the action largely symbolic. White House national security spokesman John Kirby says there’s more U.S. action to come related to Navalny’s death.

The U.K. also sanctioned six Russian prison bosses this week in charge of the penal colony where Navalny died.How does the price cap on Russian oil fit into the picture?

The Group of Seven allies in December 2022 imposed a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian oil, hoping to limit Russia’s revenues from fossil fuels.

The Treasury Department says Kremlin oil tax revenue was more than 40 percent lower in the first nine months of 2023 because of the cap. But the IMF says Russia’s economy is still set to grow, with GDP projected to increase by 2.6 percent in 2024.

Policy experts are divided on the effectiveness of the price cap. Some have called for stronger enforcement of the current policy, a lowering of the price cap or even a complete oil embargo.

Overall, how effective are the sanctions?

The Biden administration acknowledges that sanctions alone cannot stop Russia’s invasion. And many policy experts say the sanctions are not strong enough — as evidenced by the growth of the Russian economy.

Eswar Prasad, a Cornell economist, says the latest sanctions are “likely to be of limited potency in stifling Russia’s economy or its war effort.” He said the “escape valve” provided by China, Russia’s ability to maneuver around many of the sanctions and the impasse in Congress over new military aid for Ukraine “have substantially eroded the symbolic and substantive power of such sanctions.”

The West still has other options to consider in further punishing Russia.

The U.S. and Europe are considering the use of $300 billion of Russia’s frozen central bank assets to fund Ukraine as reparations for the war, but that’s a legally complex matter. The U.S. could also designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, an idea that has gained bipartisan popularity in the U.S. Congress.

How is stalled U.S. aid in Congress impacting the war effort?

With House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., blocking votes on Senate-passed aid for Ukraine and other countries, sanctions are stuck doing much of America’s heavy lifting in the war effort.

Russia now has a decisive advantage in terms of munitions and troops. Putin’s forces have a 2:1 edge on manpower and a 5:1 edge on firepower, according to Dara Massicot, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

This math is problematic for Ukraine’s ability to fight. It needs foreign aid to replenish its stockades and help even the odds. The new sanctions will at best limit the production of Russian factories going forward, rather than address the current gap in troops and weapons.

How are the sanctions affecting everyday Russians?

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was initially met with panic by some Russians after Western nations suspended flights and the ruble devalued, prompting some people to queue at cash machines to take out hard currency. It prompted Russia’s central bank to hike its key interest rate to 20% to stabilize the ruble, which went into free fall, driving up the cost of borrowing.

But two years on from the invasion, Putin is still in power and the sanctions have not yet pushed ordinary Russians to demand an end to the war. Russians are noticing a difference in the quality of their living standards as Western products have increasingly been swapped out and prices in the shops have risen.

Brands such as McDonalds have disappeared from Russia to be replaced with the Russian version – “Tasty – that’s it.” The interest rate in Russia is also still high at 16% and some people have had to put on hold plans to buy apartments because they cannot afford the cost of borrowing.

It’s still possible to get Western goods such as iPhones, but they now come at a premium. Travel abroad to Europe and the United States has also become almost prohibitively expensive as there are now no direct flights. The ruble is still weak, meaning it’s now much more expensive for Russians to spend their cash abroad.

But, there are plenty of Russians who don’t travel to Europe, who don’t rely on Western products and who think that the sanctions are a good thing because they help Russia to become more self-sufficient.

Source: AP News

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UK, Germany, Denmark reaffirm Ukraine support on war anniversary

Political leaders in the UK have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine on the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain was prepared to do "whatever it takes" and pledged almost £250m towards producing artillery shells.

King Charles praised the strength of Ukrainians, who continue to endure "tremendous hardship". It comes a day after the UK announced further sanctions against Russia.

Mr Sunak, who visited Kyiv last month to sign a new security agreement and announce £2.5bn of military aid to Ukraine over the coming year, said "we must renew our determination" on this "grim anniversary".

A new package, announced on Saturday, includes £245m intended to replenish Kyiv's reserves of artillery ammunition - an area which has been key to Ukraine's resistance, with shortages recently being cited as an issue.

The announcement comes after the Royal Air Force completed its delivery of a previously announced consignment of anti-tank missiles.

German lawmakers on Thursday called on the government to deliver further long-range weapons to Ukraine, but voted down an opposition call explicitly urging it to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles.

Germany is now the second-biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called recently for other European countries to step up with more weapons deliveries.

His government is increasing aid for Ukraine this year, planning more than 7 billion euros ($7.5 billion) for weapons deliveries. It has delivered air-defense systems, tanks and armored personnel carriers among other aid. Last week, Scholz signed a long-term bilateral security agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Meanwhile, Denmark announced another joint European military aid package to Ukraine of 1.7 billion kroner ($247 million). The donation includes 15,000 artillery shells, as well as drones and air defenses, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

Sources: BBC

AP News

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STAND WITH UKRAINE GLOBAL RALLY UNFOLDS IN OVER 700 CITIES, 69 COUNTRIES.

On February 24, worldwide mass rallies are unfolding as part of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) StandWithUkraine global advocacy campaign. Marking the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in a war that has spanned a decade, supporters in over 700 cities across 65 countries are rallying in solidarity with Ukraine.

These countries included: Sweden, Montenegro, Sweden, Antartica, Turkey, Japan, Poland, Serbia, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Latvia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Thailand, Uganda, Australia, France, South Korea.

HOLY FATHER ON UKRAINE

Angelus - February 25, 2024 (Sunday)

It is with sorrow that we remembered the second anniversary of the beginning of the large-scale war in Ukraine yesterday, February the 24th. How many victims and injured people, how much destruction, anguish and tears in a period that is becoming terribly long and the end of which cannot be seen yet! It is a war that is not only devastating that region of Europe but which is unleashing a global wave of fear and hatred. While renewing my heartfelt affection for the tormented Ukrainian people, I keep praying for everyone, especially for the countless innocent victims. I earnestly plead that the little humanity needed to create the conditions for a diplomatic solution in seeking for a just and lasting peace be sought. And, brothers and sisters, let us not forget to pray for Palestine, for Israel, and for the many peoples torn apart by war, and to concretely help those who suffer! Let us think of the huge amount of suffering, let us think of the wounded, innocent children.

Ieri, 24 febbraio, abbiamo ricordato con dolore il secondo anniversario dell’inizio della guerra su vasta scala in Ucraina. Quante vittime, feriti, distruzioni, angustie, lacrime in un periodo che sta diventando terribilmente lungo e di cui non si intravvede ancora la fine! È una guerra che non solo sta devastando quella regione d’Europa, ma che scatena un’ondata globale di paura e odio. Mentre rinnovo il mio vivissimo affetto al martoriato popolo ucraino e prego per tutti, in particolare per le numerosissime vittime innocenti, supplico che si ritrovi quel po’ di umanità che permetta di creare le condizioni di una soluzione diplomatica alla ricerca di una pace giusta e duratura. E, fratelli e sorelle, non dimentichiamoci di pregare per la Palestina, per Israele e per i tanti popoli dilaniati dalla guerra, e di aiutare concretamente chi soffre! Pensiamo a tanta sofferenza, pensiamo ai bambini feriti, innocenti.

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