On February 24th, 2022, Vladimir Putin began a tragedy by invading Ukraine that caused unfathomable destruction. After twelve months of cruelty, the aftermath we behold today is steeped in death and despair. Here is the balance sheet of the Russian occupation in numbers:
The Human Loss of Russian and Ukraine War Is Horribly High
The Norwegian government estimates that the war between Ukraine and Russia has led to 180,000 Russian soldiers wounded or killed, plus another 100,000 Ukrainian fatalities. On the other hand, Western sources believe 150000 casualties have occurred on each side of this conflict. To compare: during the entire decade-long Afghan War (1979 – 1989), only about 15000 Soviet troops were slain by their adversaries. Unfortunately, it looks like history is repeating itself amongst these two countries as Ukrainians refer to Russians sent into battle as “cannon fodder.”
After three months of intense bombardment, Moscow’s forces invaded Mariupol in late May, leaving behind a wasteland full of rubble and corpses.
The Ukrainian government reports that approximately 20,000 civilians have perished in the conflict. Western sources claim this figure may be as high as 40,000 people nationwide. In 2020, the UN estimated 18,000 individuals died or were wounded during the Russian bombardment. However, they warned that this number is likely to increase drastically. According to Kyiv’s accountings, 400 innocent children are among those killed – most of whom lost their lives due to heavy shelling from Russia.
The Ukrainian Economy Has Suffered a Lot, too
Armed strife has primarily been destroyed in the east of Ukraine since Russian forces failed to seize Kyiv and pulled out from northern areas one month after commencing their attack. This conflict has decimated countless residences, ventures, and factories. To make matters worse, Russia‘s deliberate attacks on essential energy infrastructure across the country recently resulted in massive power cuts all over Ukraine, leaving millions with no heat during this winter season.
October was a difficult month for Ukraine, as the World Bank predicted their economy to collapse by an appalling 35% come 2022. The Kyiv School of Economics declared that rebuilding all war-torn infrastructure would cost an immense $138 billion this January. November’s reports exposed just how much damage has been done to this cereal and sunflower oil-exporting nation – with up to $34 billion in financial losses within agriculture alone!
The United Nations cultural fund reported that a heart-wrenching 3,000 schools and 239 sites of cultural importance have been destroyed because of sustained warfare. A joint evaluation from the Ukrainian government, European Commission, and World Bank in September revealed it would cost an alarming $349 billion for Ukraine to recover its losses.
You may be interested in: Decentraland and Upland Plan to Carry the Carnival of Brazil Into the Metaverse
