The Costs of Freedom

With the beginning of large -scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on Februrary 24, 2022, a humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Ukraine, as millions have been displaced and thousands killed during the conflict. Attacks have struck people in bread lines and on play grounds, as well as aparment blocks, theaters and hospitals. By the U.N's most recent count, as of Aug. 21, there have been over 13,400 verified civilian casualties in Ukraine since Feb. 24, including nearly 1,000 children. So far, more than 5,500 civilians have been killed and over 7,800 injured, according to the U.N., though these numbers are likely to be significantly higher. Russia has targeted many residential areas, schools, hospitals, and many civilian areas. According to the World Health Organization, there have been 445 attacks related to health care in Ukraine reported between Feb. 24 and Aug. 11- including against health facilities, as well as personnel and patients. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said more than 2,000 educational institutions in Ukraine, including kindergartens, schools and universities, have been destroyed in Russian air strikes. The only wish and hope of many Ukrainians today is the end of this war as soon as possible. They sincerely believe that this great struggle for their freedom will be successful and they say that they will never give up.