1. What is happening
in Ukraine?
Student Health & Human Services
Office of Human Relations, Diversity & Equity
April 2022

2. Welcome
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3. Objectives
Learn about what has been happening in
Ukraine.
Discuss the complex history between
Ukraine and Russia.
Reflect on what it means to be a refugee.

4. Reflection
What do you already
know about the Russian
invasion of Ukraine?

5. February 24, 2022
• Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
• The attack is internationally considered an act of
aggression.
• The invasion triggered Europe's largest refugee
crisis since World War II.
• More than 4 million Ukrainians have left the country
• Millions more have been internally displaced.

6. But, why?

7. Reflection
What stood out for you in
that video?

8. The Soviet Union / (USSR)
(1922-1991)
• The Soviet Union was once a
socialist nation that included
Russia, Ukraine and 13
other states.
• The USSR was the largest
country in the world at the time
• Over 130 languages existed in
the USSR.

9. Independence
Movements
• In the 1980's, Mikhail Gorbachev came into
power, introducing freedom and reforms.
• Independence movements began and by 1991
the USSR had completely devolved.
• New president, Vladimir Putin called the end
of the Soviet Union the "greatest geopolitical
catastrophe of the 20th century" and has been
trying to gain control of the region ever since.

10. Putin & Ukraine
Russia has been especially concerned
about Ukraine joining NATO and the
European Union.
Ukraine shares
many cultural similarities with Russia
• Especially in the southern and
eastern region which are Russian speaking.
Putin argues that Ukraine unfairly
inherited historic parts of Russia during
the demise of the Soviet Union.

11. What happened
in 2014?
• In 2014 Russia annexed
Crimea, and supported forces
to take control of the eastern
region (Donbass) of Ukraine.
• Ukraine wants to keep
its independence.

12. December 2021
• Russia sends troops to the
Ukrainian/Russian border.
• Russian president, Vladimir
Putin releases an article
asserting that Russians and
Ukrainians are "one people".

13. February 2022
• Russia sends troops to "breakaway" regions
of Ukraine (located in Donbass) to "keep the
peace".
• Soon after, Russia launches a full-scale
invasion of Ukraine.
• The invasion was swiftly condemned around
the world, and within Russia.

14. Human Lives Disrupted
As of March 30, 2022...
Over 4million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian troops invaded.
• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicates that at least half of the refugees
from Ukraine are children.
• Refugees are traveling to Poland, Romania, Moldova and Hungary, primarily.
There are estimates that 6.5 million people have been displaced within Ukraine.
More than 12 million people are stranded in areas that are under attack.

15. War Crimes
• The International Criminal Court has
already begun investigating Russian war
crimes.
• Reports of the deliberate killing of
civilians in Bucha, a town on the
outskirts of Kyiv, and other nearby areas
violate international treaties outlined in
the Geneva Convention.
• The Geneva Convention dictates
that civilians cannot be deliberately
attacked.

16. Check Out
Who do you talk to about current
events/the news?

17. Visit the HRDE Webpage for Additional Resources
Click Here for Human Relations Homepage!
Click Her for additional resources on the ciris in Ukraine!

18. Teacher
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