Ukraine is commemorating the second anniversary of Russian’s invasion, plunging the countries into a third year of trench warfare. Late February also marked the tenth year of the Ukrainian Revolution, when the pro-Russian government was forced out of the country and Russian speaking separatists seized Crimea and Southwestern Ukraine.
Many foreign leaders arrived in Ukraine to show support to Zelensky. Ukrainian officials sang praises for the initial defense by Ukrainian troops, which shocked the world with its success. 2024 will also be a critical year for Ukraine, as it had a presidential election scheduled for March, which it will postpone due to martial law. NY Times says:
In solemn ceremonies and small vigils, state visits, stirring speeches and statements of solidarity, Ukraine and its allies marked the dawn of the third year of Russia’s unprovoked invasion with a single message: Believe.
“When thousands of columns of Russian invaders moved from all directions into Ukraine, when thousands of rockets and bombs fell on our land, no one in the world believed that we would stand,” said Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s newly named top military commander. “No one believed, but Ukraine did!”
For the war to continue, both Russia and Ukraine have to make sure they have enough manpower, weapons, and ammunition. Russia has 4 and a half times the population as Ukraine, swinging heavily the advantage on its side even though it cannot mobilize as many men. Europe and America’s defense industry is slowly catching up to Russia’s, but time is not on its side. The Washington Post reports:
James Black, a defense and security researcher at RAND Europe, said the continent had reconfigured its defense industries in recent decades, as regional militaries pursued smaller-scale missions beyond Europe and the prospect of renewed state-on-state conflict seemed remote.
“Europe is now racing to relearn how to mobilize industry onto a wartime footing. But you cannot simply flip a switch,” Black said, noting the months or years required to build new production lines, hire and train new workers, and obtain key materials. “That time lag only plays into Russia’s favor.”
Ukraine will have to decide whether it can mobilize enough resources to push Russia to give up. Russia, however, has already annexed all of Southeastern Ukraine and abandoning those territories would be a devastating blow to its prestige.
READ NEXT: The Wikileaks Saga Could Be Over Soon
