What is Ukraine and what has been happening there?
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe with a population of over 44 million people. It is bordered by Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south.
Ukraine has a long and rich history, dating back to the 9th century AD. It was once part of the Kievan Rus', a powerful medieval state that ruled over much of Eastern Europe. In the 14th century, Ukraine was conquered by the Mongol Empire, and it remained under Mongol rule for over 200 years.
In the 17th century, Ukraine was divided between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Russian Empire. After the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth collapsed in the 18th century, Ukraine became part of the Russian Empire.
Ukraine gained its independence from the Russian Empire in 1917, but it was quickly conquered by the Soviet Union in 1922. Ukraine remained part of the Soviet Union for over 70 years.
Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and it has been an independent country ever since.
What has been happening in Ukraine?
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This was the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II.
The Russian invasion has been met with fierce resistance from the Ukrainian military and people. The war has caused a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, with millions of people displaced from their homes and thousands of civilians killed.
The war in Ukraine is still ongoing, and it is unclear when it will end. However, the Ukrainian people have shown remarkable resilience in the face of Russian aggression.