Russia & Ukraine War in Numbers. How Do Businesses React to the Russian Assault in Ukraine and How Can You Help?

What is wrong with the two brotherly countries? When did it all start?

I prepared a short historical excursion of the Russo-Ukrainian relationships.

In 2008 at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, US President George Bush sought to secure Ukraine and Georgia a Plan of Action for Alliance Membership (MAP). Putin vehemently opposed, and Moscow made it clear that it did not fully recognize Ukraine’s independence. Germany and France eventually blocked Bush’s plan. Both post-Soviet countries, Ukraine and Georgia, were promised NATO membership, but without a date. Russia didn’t want NATO neighbors so started to create a plan to suppress Ukraine.

Sources to read to understand this situation: Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances

In 2013, Ukrainian president, Victor Yanukovich decided to join a customs union set up between three member states: Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. They chose this one instead of the European Union. 

However, the whole country and every Ukrainian boy and girl wanted to be part of the European Union. Kinda discrepancy. So here we go – people came to Maidan for protest. More than a thousand people were injured and 107 people were killed in the protest. It became clear to the government that the Ukrainians were a freedom-loving and strong people. Yanukovych fled to Russia, and Ukraine joined the European Union.

At this time Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, brings his troops into Crimea and conducts a peaceful illegal referendum. To understand why a referendum is unlawful read the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. Russia invaded annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine despite the Belavezha Accords that established the Commonwealth of the Independent States, the 1975 Helsinki Accords, the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, and the 1997 Treaty on friendship. 

Source to read to understand Russia behavior: Brezhnev Doctrine

Okay, hope lessons learned for now so we are moving to the next milestone. 

2014. Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia propaganda gave impetus to separatism in Donbas, and “people’s republics” were proclaimed in Donetsk and Luhansk, which were led by people coming from the Russian Federation in uniforms without identification marks. Kyiv decided on the large-scale use of force, which was called the “anti-terrorist operation” (ATO).

Just want to give you a real-life example to understand the situation with DPR (DNR) and LPR (LNR). Let’s say you’re working in a cozy company, you’re getting your salary just in time and you have good colleagues to drink beer after the workday. Imagined? So suddenly the guy from the office across the street comes to your company and decided to kill your colleagues to save you. Definitely, this is a totally crazy mad guy. To save from what? You work in the company, go to the office every day, get your salary. So here is the story, kids.

2021. The Russian Federation twice drew troops to the borders of Ukraine – spring and late autumn. In December, for the first time, President Putin issued an ultimatum to the US and NATO not to accept Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries into the alliance, nor to provide them with military assistance. The alliance said no.

For January 31, 2021, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the total number of casualties is 42-44 thousand, of whom 13,100-13,300 died and 29,500-33500 were injured. This number includes 3,375 dead and 7,000-9,000 wounded civilians, about 4,150 killed and 9,700-10,700 wounded Ukrainian servicemen, and about 5,700 killed and 12,700-1,300 wounded pro-Russian militants. 

On 21 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the separatist “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic”. The Parliament has ratified the relevant instruments. In the early morning of 24 February, the Head of State of the Russian Federation announced the launching of a “special military operation” against Ukraine. He called it the “demilitarization” of the country. The armed forces of the Russian Federation began attacking the cities of Ukraine and its military infrastructure.

The Russo-Ukrainian War in numbers and examples

Since the beginning of the open aggression on the 24th of February 2022, the enemy has used about 180 Iskander cruise and operational-tactical missiles. According to the information provided by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the first day of the Russian invasion, the troops of the Russian Federation launched more than 30 strikes with “Caliber” cruise missiles, MLRS, aircraft, and artillery on Ukrainian civil and military infrastructure. 20 helicopters KA-52 and Mi-8 of the Russian Federation landed at Gostomel airfield. 

On February 28 the Ministry of Health informed that since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine 2,040 civilians had been wounded, including 45 children. 

The most severe fights are in Kharkiv, which sits just 40 kilometers south of the Russian border, and the capital of Ukraine – Kyiv. The targets are not only military objects, as claimed by the occupiers, but also residential buildings, hospitals, and even orphanages for kids. It is located in the small town near Kyiv, Vorzel, and was shelled by the Russian army presumably from volley fire systems Hrad. There were 50 children in the building at the moment.

Eyewitnesses report that the Russian occupiers fired artillery at a residential area in the town of Chuguiv in the Kharkiv region. An underaged boy who was in the house died as a result of the shelling. A fire broke out in an area of three floors in one of the houses. Rescuers localized the fire. There are a number of injured residents. 5 people were killed and 6 were injured on a bus that came under fire from Russian occupation forces near the village of Volokhiv Yar.

Heavy shelling took place in Kharkiv on the 26th of February, where civilians were forced to continuously take shelter from the blasts. Five civilians and two service members died.

Russian forces have blasted Kharkiv with Grad multiple rocket launcher systems on February 28, striking residential buildings. Eleven people have been killed in the attacks.

According to information provided by Kyiv City Council, since the beginning of the attacks on February 24, 9 civilians have been killed in Kyiv, including one child. 4 unidentified persons, and 18 military and members of Territorial Defendants. 106 people were injured, among them 47 civilians and three children among them. Including a 17-year-old cadet. On the 26th of February, an enemy missile hit a private residential house in the Borodyanka, a village 60 kilometers north of Kyiv, and destroyed it completely, at least 3 people died. 

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, two unidentified missiles hit and set on fire a building right next to the TV tower on the 1st of March. The fire has been extinguished. 5 people were killed and 5 were injured. 

On the 27th of February, the Russian occupiers fired 5 airstrikes and 16 missiles.

Another center of concentration of the occupying forces is in the Republic of Belarus:

10 helicopters from the 15 Army Aviation Brigade, based in the settlement of Ostrov, Pskov Region, as well as 2 An-124 aircraft of the Air and Space Forces were transferred to the Machulishchi airfield and four Su-34 fighter-bombers are located at Baranovychy field. 

On the 28th of February, the Russian occupiers fired 6 missiles (up to 30 missiles) and 4 airstrikes, mostly from the airspace of the Republic of Belarus. According to the information of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy does not abandon the aspirations to achieve its goal, and its own offensive potential is almost exhausted. They plan to collaborate with the most trained military units of the Republic of Belarus, completing their concentration along the State Border of Ukraine. 

Up to this time, Russia fired more than 400 missiles, says a senior US defense official. For now, our country and cities stand strong, but heavy fightings continue all over Ukraine. But according to CNN the US believes Russia is resorting to heavier firepower and more devastating weapons systems. 

The results of the 6-days attack on peaceful land are already tragic and the outcome is unpredictable. All people of Ukraine are suffering and praying for this massive disaster to stop. 

How do businesses react to Russian assault?

The reaction of foreign businesses:

• Poster POS stopped the work of 10 000 Russian cafes and restaurants. Instead of the check management system, the owners of cafes and waiters see reports of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
• Elon Musk gives Ukrainians access to the Starlink Internet. “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route,” wrote Elon Musk on Twitter, responding to the request of the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov.
• The founder of Japanese company Rakuten Viber Hiroshi Mikitani donated 8,7 million dollars to support Ukraine. Viber also provides 60 free Viber out minutes to connect with your loved ones wherever you are.
• Meta, which owns the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp services, has announced support in blocking fake or fraudulent accounts and limiting the spread of misinformation.
• YouTube stops monetization of Russian channels. “Hundreds of channels and thousands of videos” on YouTube were also removed, violating Google’s policy. In addition, Google has enhanced the level of protection of Ukrainian accounts: Safe viewing of Google is enabled by default, and the system also advises the program, which determines known phishing threats and malware software.
• The Airbnb housing search service will provide asylum to more than hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians free of charge, says Bryan Cesky, CEO of the company.

The reaction of the diplomatic side: 

• Within the first 100 hours of the war, Ukraine got $1 bln of donations from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, ES, etc. 
• The US disconnected Russia from Swift.
• Thirty-two countries have closed their air space for Russian airlines and aircraft.
• McDonald’s and KFC will provide food for the Ukrainian military and medical personnel.

How you can help Ukraine to stand?

According to the announcement of Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the international coalition for the defense of Ukraine and peace continues to grow. 73 countries and 9 international organizations support Ukraine and demand Russia stop the war. 

Here is what you can personally do to support Ukraine.

1. Donations

People from all over the world donate money to support Ukrainian National Army. You can transfer funds online to the special account opened to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a payment card here. Also, you may find the information for money transfers below:

For donations in USD:

SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX

JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, New York

SWIFT Code: CHASUS33

Account: 400807238

383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179, USA

Bank account: UA843000010000000047330992708

For donations in GBP:

SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX

Bank of England, London

SWIFT Code: BKENGB2L

Account: 40000982

Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH, UK

Bank account: UA843000010000000047330992708

For donations in EUR:

SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX

DEUTSCHE BUNDESBANK, Frankfurt

SWIFT Code: MARKDEFF

Account: 5040040066

IBAN DE05504000005040040066

Wilhelm-Epsteinn-Strabe 14, 60431 Frankfurt Am Main,Germany

Bank account: UA843000010000000047330992708

You can also make donations in cryptocurrency to the following accounts:

BTC — 357a3So9CbsNfBBgFYACGvxxS6tMaDoa1P
ETH and USDT (erc20) — 0x165CD37b4C644C2921454429E7F9358d18A45e14

TRX and USDT (trc20) — TEFccmfQ38cZS1DTZVhsxKVDckA8Y6VfCy

DOT — 1x8aa2N2Ar9SQweJv9vsuZn3WYDHu7gMQu1RePjZuBe33Hv

You can also donate to The Voices of Children Foundation, which has been helping children affected by the war since 2015, the Ukrainian Red Cross to help volunteers, and funds that provide money for multiple different medical institutions: Razom for Ukraine, United Help Ukraine, Sunflower of Peacehas, Revived Soldiers Ukraine, Hospitallers. 

1. Help our Refugees 

Thousands of people had to flee from their homes. The families are separated because men are not allowed to leave Ukraine, so women and children have to leave alone. As stated on February 27, more than 120,000 people crossed the state border of Ukraine in the western part. Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, passenger traffic was at the level of 50,000 people per day, border guards write. The largest passenger traffic was in the Polish section, now it’s 68 thousand people. Women and children trying to reach the border spend at least 3 days waiting in line outdoor and the temperature at night is below 0. 

Remember, that those people were made to leave their homes and some of them may be in your area. If it happens so, provide any kind of help you can: shelter, food, or advice, where they can find anything of the abovementioned. 

At KITRUM we have more than one hundred guys from Ukraine that now trying to keep their sanity and work as usual. Glory to Ukraine.