People have priorities and tend to forget what is happening in the world, but it is extremely depressing that the world is slowly forgetting or just not caring about the war against Russia and Ukraine. It has gotten to the point where many don’t even know what is happening to Ukraine. I am not going to just say that I have never forgotten what happened or is still happening, I am willing to admit that I and a lot of people are guilty of this. But if you as a person pretend to care then there is nothing I can say to you. If you are not then continue reading this blog to have a better understanding of what is happening during the war.
So far Russia has taken over 126,610 kilometers of land from Ukraine. The land that Russia occupies is Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk. Many soldiers continue to fight back against Russian troops and are still gaining support from the U.S with newer advanced weapons. Even then, Russia continues to overwhelm Ukraine troops with their 900,000 men and women soldiers. The one terrifying thing is the death of civilians, there is not an accurate amount but it’s said to be about over 10,000 have died. Numerous people will just continue to die for wanting to stay in their homes. Luckily, people are willing to accept refugees into their homes. So far this is what’s mostly going on.
I am extremely angered that some people think just because they are not directly involved with this war in any way means they are allowed to glorify and profit off civilians in Ukraine. How some people get away with profiting off Ukraine is by selling flags or merchandise that “is used to help” the people in Ukraine. When I first heard about this I was shocked but not entirely surprised. I wasn’t extremely surprised because big businesses find a way to profit off events, ethnic groups, and sexuality. This is similar to how people make money off pride month. They would make shirts, flags, stickers, or other items as a way to “support” them, but in the end, when it’s over or people lose interest, companies will be quick to take these items off their shelves because it is no longer relevant. Thankfully, some businesses are willing to keep their dignity and not only continue to show support, but also donate money directly to Ukraine because it’s the right thing to do.
Ok, I am done talking about how you should feel and react to this information, but why should you care? Well, the answer is pretty simple, because most of Ukraine’s civilians can’t defend themselves from Russia. They aren’t strong enough to take their land back so we need to support them as much as possible. Let’s say hypothetically you were being bullied and you could do little to nothing to fight back. You would most likely want your friends to help, but they just sit back and just watch you. That’s how Ukraine is, they have trouble fighting back and need as much help as they can get before it’s too late for them.
The war is still going on and probably won’t end very soon. The only thing we can do is just show our support, whether it be donating, protesting, or rallies, we must show that we care enough to tell the whole world. Hopefully, our support is strong enough to the point where Ukraine is fighting at its strongest and taking back its land. Before you stop reading this, take a moment to reflect on those who have lost their lives in this war.
Alejandro Lopez – St. Rita of Cascia High School – DMSF Class of 2026
Image: Flagpole