volodymyrzelenskyy

volodymyrzelenskyy

Putin Drives One Million People From Ukraine. Where Are They Going?

One million people have fled Ukraine as Putin intensifies the attack, according to the United Nations.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, said in a Twitter post, “In just seven days we have witnessed the exodus of one million refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring countries.

“For many millions more, inside Ukraine, it’s time for guns to fall silent so that life-saving humanitarian assistance can be provided.”

Earlier Wednesday, the United Nations estimated that nearly 874,000 people fled Ukraine. That number spiked by Wednesday evening.

UNHCR revealed that the majority fled to Poland while other segments of the population headed to Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and beyond.

Nearly 43,000 have also moved to Russia, according to reports.

UN says more than half fleeing Ukraine are children, escaping with families walking long distances in cold weather.

Tania, who is from the city of Chernivtsi, located in western Ukraine near the border with Romania, escaped with her sister Sophia, 19, and daughter Mia, 2, just days after Russia launched the military offensive on 24 February.

“The decision was taken in just a few moments because the situation in Ukraine is very hard and you don’t know what it will be the next minute,” she told UNICEF.

Photo credit: Washington Post

The World Begs for Peace but Putin Attacks Ukraine in the Early Morning

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an attack on neighboring country Ukraine, early Thursday morning, defying the United Nation’s call for restraint.

AP Photo

Explosions were heard in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital as reports swirled that Boryspil International Airport was attacked. Sirens were heard around the city.

US President Joe Biden wasted no time in condemning the “unprovoked and unjustified” attack on Ukraine, promising the world will “hold Russia accountable”.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Putin to “stop troops from attacking Ukraine” while Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Putin did not respond to his invitation to hold discussions.

The big story

World leaders fear this can become the biggest war in Europe since 1945. The UN held an emergency meeting to dissuade Russia from attacking Ukraine, but the messages did nothing to discourage Putin from making his move.