One year since war in Ukraine started

Chisinau, February 24 /MOLDPRES/- Today we mark one year since the war in Ukraine started. The effects of the Russian invasion were felt worldwide, especially by the countries that are in the immediate vicinity of Ukraine, including the Republic of Moldova.

The context of the invasion of Ukraine

On the morning of February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin leader declared that he was "trying to demilitarize and de-Nazify" Ukraine.

In a short time, Russian forces launched bombings near the main airport in Kiev and in several locations in Ukraine, including Odesa - the Black Sea port. Later, Ukraine was attacked along the borders with Russia and Belarus. Following the attack, the country announced the closure of the airspace, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy decreed martial law throughout the country. According to the UN, more than 8 thousand civilians, including 480 children, died in a year of war in Ukraine, and more than 13 thousand were injured.

The reaction of the international community

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several states set "massive and severe" sanctions against Russia and demanded an immediate end to the war and Russia's withdrawal of military forces from the territory of Ukraine. At the same time, they provided Ukraine with financial and military technical support.

Since the beginning of the war, the Republic of Moldova has sent five batches of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which included medicines, generators, tents and food products.

The impact of the war on the Republic of Moldova

After the outbreak of the war, the Moldovan authorities repeatedly condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine and announced that they were ready to receive refugees. Later, refugee accommodation centers were opened. At the same time, several families were willing to host people from Ukraine. Following the gesture of solidarity, the Republic of Moldova became internationally known as "a small country - with a big heart". Also on February 24, a state of emergency was established in the Republic of Moldova, which was extended several times, and is still in force today.

In addition to the refugee crisis that our country faced, as a result of Russia's bombing of Ukraine's infrastructure, the energy infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova was also affected, because the country is interconnected with the Ukrainian energy system. In this context, there have been cases of massive disconnection of electricity.

Also during this period, there were four cases in which fragments of rockets fell on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, near the Ukrainian border. At the same time, the airspace of the country was repeatedly flown over by Russian missiles.

Since the beginning of the war, more than 937 thousand people from Ukraine entered the Republic of Moldova, of which about 104 thousand still remain on the territory of our country. Also during this period, more than 11 thousand citizens applied for asylum. During one year, approximately 1,000 Ukrainians were placed in the labor field, and more than 2,300 refugee children were enrolled in schools and kindergartens in the country.

In the context of the anniversary of the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, events, including exhibitions are organized in Chisinau. Also, several buildings in the capital, including the Arc de Triomphe, were illuminated in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Similarly, in the evening of today, the lights will be switched off at the headquarters of the EU Delegation in Chisinau to commemorate those who lost their lives during the war.

Photo: Presidential Administration of Ukraine