Editing 2022 Russo-Ukrainian conflict

{{Message box/currentevent}}{{Infobox military conflict|combatant1={{icon|Flag of Russia.svg}} [[Russian Federation]]<br>{{icon|Flag of DPR.jpg}} [[Donetsk People's Republic]] (February–September 2022)<br>{{icon|Flag of LPR.svg}} [[Luhansk People's Republic]] (February–September 2022)<br>'''Supported by:'''<br>{{icon|Flag of Belarus.png}} [[Republic of Belarus]]|conflict=Russian Special Military Operation|combatant2={{icon|Flag of Ukraine.svg}} [[Ukraine]]<br>{{icon|Flag of al-Qaeda.svg}} [[Al-Qaeda]]<ref name=":02">{{News citation|date=2022-03-08|title=450 Arab and foreign extremists from Idlib arrive in Ukraine|url=https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/450-arab-and-foreign-extremists-from-idlib-arrive-in-ukraine}}</ref><br>{{icon|TIP flag.png}}[[Turkistan Islamic Party]]<ref name=":02"></ref><br>'''Supported by:'''<br>{{icon|Flag of NATO.png}} [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]]|date=24 February 2022 – ''present''|place=[[Ukraine]] and the [[Donbass]] region|units1=Pro-Russian separatist forces<br>[[Russian Armed Forces]]|units2=[[Armed Forces of Ukraine]]<br>[[National Guard of Ukraine]]<br>Irregular forces<br>Foreign mercenaries|result=''Ongoing''|image=Special Military Operation Image.jpg}}

The '''2022 Russo-Ukrainian conflict''' is a{{#ifexist:Template:{{CURRENTMONTH}}{{CURRENTDAY2}}/{{PAGENAME}}|{{Template:{{CURRENTMONTH}}{{CURRENTDAY2}}/{{PAGENAME}}}}}} conflict between [[NATO]] and the [[Russian Federation]] taking place in [[Ukraine]], backed by the imperialist [[United States of America|United States]]. The conflict began with Russian military operations in 24 February 2022 with an incursion on Ukrainian-administered territory.<ref name=":4">{{News citation|date=2022-02-24|title=Russia invades Ukraine: Political, military leaders' reactions|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/leaders-key-quotes-after-russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24/|newspaper=Reuters|retrieved=2022-03-10}}</ref> The imperialist US and [[European Union|EU]] camp is sacrificing Ukraine to 'weaken Russia' according to a former NATO advisor.<ref name=":5">{{News citation|author=[[Aaron Mate]]|newspaper=[[The Grayzone]]|title=US, EU sacrificing Ukraine to ‘weaken Russia’: fmr. NATO adviser|date=2022-04-15|url=https://thegrayzone.com/2022/04/15/us-eu-sacrificing-ukraine-to-weaken-russia-fmr-nato-adviser/}}</ref> 

In 2014, the US installed a pro-Western government through the [[2014 Ukrainian coup d'etat|Euromaidan coup]],<ref>{{News citation|title=How and Why the US Government Perpetrated the 2014 Coup in Ukraine|url=https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2018/06/03/how-why-us-government-perpetrated-2014-coup-ukraine/}}</ref> which resulted in the rise of [[neo-Nazism]] in Ukraine<ref>{{News citation|title=Commentary: Ukraine’s neo-Nazi problem|date=2018-03-19|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cohen-ukraine-commentary-idUSKBN1GV2TY}}</ref><ref>{{News citation|title=Ukrainian Jewish Committee: Our government encourages the glorification of Nazi collaborators|date=2022-03-14|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wU2wOLvWik|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323123229/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wU2wOLvWik|archive-date=2022-03-23|quote=Our government encourages glorification of Nazi collaborators, mass-murderers, and murderers of Jews. Literally, there are hundreds of monuments, streets, named after killers of Jews. [...] We have anti-Semitic incidents every day. There is vandalism of mass graves - Holocaust mass graves. Vandalism on Jewish monuments. Sholem Aleichem latest - was vandalised with swastikas in Kiev, central Kiev.}}</ref> and saw pro-NATO [[Petro Poroshenko]] elected as President.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=The Guardian|title=Petro Poroshenko wins Ukraine presidency, according to exit polls|date=2014-05-25|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/25/petro-poroshenko-ukraine-president-wins-election}}</ref> The most prominent neo-Nazi group in Ukraine is the [[Azov Battalion]], a former paramilitary group that terrorised the [[Donbass]] since 2014 and was officially incorporated into the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the conflict. This right-wing pro-[[Imperial core|West]] government maintained hostilities towards ethnic Russians in the Donbass region of Ukraine.<ref>{{News citation|date=2022-02-17|title=Ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine say attacked by govt. forces|url=https://parstoday.com/en/news/world-i166324-ethnic_russians_in_eastern_ukraine_say_attacked_by_govt._forces}}</ref> These hostilities led to separatist movements establishing the [[Luhansk People's Republic]] and the [[Donetsk People's Republic]] in their corresponding [[Oblast|oblasts]], which were annexed into the Russian Federation as of 30 September 2022.

==Background==

=== NATO expansion ===
[[File:NATO expansion.png|thumb|NATO expansion towards Russia's borders since 1990]]
In 1990, in a meeting between [[United States of America|United States]] secretary of state [[James Baker]] and [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], the US official guaranteed that "not an inch of NATO’s present military jurisdiction will spread in an eastern direction."<ref>{{News citation|journalist=Svetlana Savranskaya & Tom Blanton|date=2017-12-12|title=NATO expansion: what Gorbachev heard|url=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2017-12-12/nato-expansion-what-gorbachev-heard-western-leaders-early|newspaper=National Security Archive}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|author=[[James Baker]], [[Mikhail Gorbachev|Mikhail Gorbachyov]]|year=1990|title=Memorandum of conversation between Mikhail Gorbachev and James Baker in Moscow|title-url=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/16116-document-05-memorandum-conversation-between|page=6|quote=Baker: We understand the need for assurances to the countries in the East. If we maintain a presence in Germany that is part of NATO, there would be no extension of NATO's jurisdiction for forces of NATO one inch to the east.|pdf=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/4325679/Document-05-Memorandum-of-conversation-between.pdf|publisher=National Security Archive}}</ref>

=== Orange Color Revolution ===
{{Main article|Orange Revolution}}

=== Euromaidan coup and Donbass War ===
[[File:Euromaidan building.png|thumb|Odessa trade union building burned in the 2014 coup.]]
While Russia was distracted with the Sochi Olympics, the US supported the [[2014 Ukrainian coup d'etat|Maidan coup]] which overthrew recently re-elected anti-NATO president [[Viktor Yanukovych]] and replaced him with a [[Far-right politics|far-right]], pro-[[Imperial core|Western]] government. In response to this coup and with rising tensions from the anti-Russian government, Crimeans (the majority of which were, for historical reasons, ethnic Russians) voted overwhelmingly in favor of seceding from Ukraine and joining into the Russian Federation.<ref>{{News citation|title=Crimeans vote overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine, join Russia|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crimeans-vote-overwhelmingly-to-secede-from-ukraine-join-russia/}}</ref>

[[Donetsk People's Republic (2014–2022)|Donetsk]] and [[Luhansk People's Republic|Luhansk]] also declared independence in their respective oblasts and formed the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic. These breakaway republics, mostly composed of civilians, were then forced into civil war with the Ukrainian army and para-military neo-Nazi outfits such as the Azov battalion who uses their vast arsenal to shell and invade the oblasts.

==== Minsk Accords ====
In 2014, Belarus negotiated the first Minsk agreement, which Russia, Ukraine, and the [[OSCE]] signed. [[Federal Republic of Germany|Germany]] and [[French Republic|France]] oversaw the negotiations. After the first deal quickly failed, they created a second Minsk agreement in 2015. Minsk II required Ukraine to adopt a new constitution by late 2015 that would decentralize power and give autonomy to Donetsk and Luhansk.

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko refused to implement the accords. [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy|Zelenskyy]] promised to restart peace negotiations during his 2019 presidential campaign but reversed his decision after becoming president.<ref name=":3">{{Web citation|author=[[Ben Norton]]|newspaper=[[Geopolitical Economy Report]]|title=Ukraine’s Zelensky admits he sabotaged Minsk peace deal with Russia, West blocked negotiations|date=2023-02-10|url=https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/02/10/ukraine-zelensky-minsk-peace-russia/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925173916/https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/02/10/ukraine-zelensky-minsk-peace-russia/|archive-date=2023-09-25}}</ref>

=== 2021 crisis ===
Tensions rose sharply in 2021, when the Brussels summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization reiterated that Ukraine would become aligned with NATO,<ref>{{News citation|date=2021-04-14|title=Brussels Summit Communiqué|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_185000.htm|newspaper=NATO|quote=We reiterate the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process; we reaffirm all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions, including that each partner will be judged on its own merits.}}</ref> sparking outrage from Russian officials who considered the expansion of NATO a threat of their national security.<ref>{{News citation|date=2022-01-16|title=NATO expansion one of main threats to Russia’s national security - ambassador|url=https://tass.com/russia/1388653|newspaper=Russian News Agency TASS|retrieved=2022-01-24|quote="After the collapse of the USSR, the security situation in Europe deteriorated sharply. Five ‘waves’ of NATO expansion have brought the Alliance States forces closer to our borders," [the Russian ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov] stated.<br><br>"NATO is constantly building up its offensive potential, demonstrating military force along the perimeter of the Russian territory. [...]}}</ref> Russia began to build up troops closer to their borders, demanding that NATO stop its expansion towards Russia.<ref>{{News citation|date=2022-02-18|title=West promised not to expand NATO|url=https://www.rt.com/news/549921-nato-expansion-russia-document/|newspaper=[[RT (TV Network)|RT]]}}</ref>

In December 2021, Russia published two drafted peace treaties, which the West rejected. Russia demanded security guarantees that NATO would not carry out activities on its borders.<ref name=":3" />

== Russian entrance into Ukraine ==
The 2022 conflict began with Russian forces rapidly advancing across Ukraine from the [[Republic of Belarus|Belarusian]] border, [[Crimea]], and the Donbass, seizing over a fifth of Ukrainian territory,<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=TeleSUR|title=Russia Controls About 20% of Ukrainian Territory: Zelensky|date=2022-06-02|url=https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Russia-Controls-About-20-of-Ukrainian-Territory-Zelensky-20220602-0007.html|archive-url=https://archive.ph/WsynE|archive-date=2023-09-14|retrieved=2023-09-14}}</ref> including the city of [[Kherson]].<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=Reuters|title=Russia says it captures Ukrainian city of Kherson -RIA|date=2022-03-02|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-it-captures-ukrainian-city-kherson-ria-2022-03-02/|archive-url=https://archive.ph/HE7xF|archive-date=2022-03-02|retrieved=2023-09-14}}</ref> On March 7, Mikhail and Aleksander Kononovich, members of the [[Leninist Communist Youth Union of Ukraine|Komsomol of Ukraine]], were arrested by Ukrainian authorities and imprisoned in [[Kiev]].<ref>{{News citation|newspaper=In Defense of Communism|title=Ukraine: Communist Youth Union members beaten badly, remain detained in Kiev|date=2022-03-13|url=http://www.idcommunism.com/2022/03/ukraine-communist-youth-union-members-beaten-badly-remain-detained-in-kiev.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313015316/http://www.idcommunism.com/2022/03/ukraine-communist-youth-union-members-beaten-badly-remain-detained-in-kiev.html|archive-date=2022-03-13|retrieved=2022-03-20}}</ref> Russian forces retreated from northern Ukraine in April 2022.<ref>{{YouTube citation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_jQQw0TNiw|channel=The New Atlas|title=Russian Operations in Ukraine: Week 6 Update|date=2022-04-04}}</ref> The war then transitioned into attrition, with relatively slow Russian advances taking the cities of [[Mariupol]]<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=TeleSUR|title=Peaceful Life Returning to Mariupol — City Head|date=2022-05-21|url=https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Peaceful-Life-Returning-to-Mariupol--City-Head-20220521-0008.html|archive-url=https://archive.ph/x18fI|archive-date=2023-09-14|retrieved=2023-09-14}}</ref> and [[Severodonetsk]]<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=TeleSUR|title=Russia Confirms Full Control of Severodonetsk City|date=2022-06-25|url=https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Russia-Confirms-Full-Control-of-Severodonetsk-City-20220625-0006.html|archive-url=https://archive.ph/RQHsT|archive-date=2023-09-14|retrieved=2023-09-14}}</ref> in the spring and summer. In September 2022, Ukraine launched its first successful counteroffensive which retook all of Russian-occupied [[Kharkov]] oblast and a section of Luhansk oblast.<ref>{{YouTube citation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEoXDjwqePY|channel=The New Atlas|title=Escalate or Grind On? Russian Ops in Ukraine Update for September 14, 2022|date=2022-09-14}}</ref> Russian forces west of the Dnieper River in Kherson oblast retreated in November 2022.<ref>{{YouTube citation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_DeH3-H4SQ|channel=The New Atlas|title=Russian Kherson Withdrawal: Trap? Or Necessary Chess Move?|date=2022-10-09}}</ref> The winter of 2022 and spring of 2023 saw few territorial changes, as Russia and Ukraine fought a grinding battle of attrition over the city of [[Bakhmut]] in Donetsk oblast,<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=CGTN|title=Why Russia and Ukraine have fought for five months over Bakhmut|date=2022-12-22|url=https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2022-12-22/Why-Russia-and-Ukraine-have-fought-for-five-months-over-Bakhmut-1fVC6G1QeKQ/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.ph/8t6fE|archive-date=2023-09-14|retrieved=2023-09-14}}</ref> and Russia constructed substantial defenses in [[Zaporozhye]] oblast during this time in preparation for a Ukrainian attempt to reach Crimea.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Gerry Doyle, Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa and Adolfo Arranz|newspaper=Reuters|title=Digging in: How Russia has heavily fortified swathes of Ukraine – a development that could complicate a spring counteroffensive.|date=2023-04-24|url=https://www.reuters.com/graphics/UKRAINE-CRISIS/COUNTEROFFENSIVE/mopakddwbpa/|archive-url=https://archive.ph/p9RYS|archive-date=2023-05-01|retrieved=2023-09-14}}</ref> Russia had consolidated control over Bakhmut by the end of May 2023.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=CGTN|title=Russia claims 'full' control of Bakhmut while Ukraine says situation 'critical'|date=2023-05-21|url=https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-05-21/Russia-claims-control-of-Bakhmut-Ukraine-says-situation-critical--1jZiuPuoaaI/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.ph/crjDm|archive-date=2023-09-14|retrieved=2023-09-14}}</ref> At the beginning of June 2023, Ukraine launched its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russian forces in Zaporozhye.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Guy Faulconbridge|newspaper=Reuters|title=Russia says it thwarted major Ukrainian offensive, Kyiv says Moscow spreads lies|date=2023-06-05|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-its-forces-thwarted-major-ukrainian-offensive-2023-06-04/|archive-url=https://archive.ph/JwdAP|archive-date=2023-06-05|retrieved=2023-09-14}}</ref> As of September 2023, three months after the Ukrainian counteroffensive began, Ukraine has failed to make substantial progress against Russian defences.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=CGTN|title=Ukraine tells counter-offensive critics to 'shut up', Russia 'sinking ships' to block Crimea bridge attacks|date=2023-09-01|url=https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2023-09-01/Ukraine-tells-critics-of-counter-offensive-to-shut-up--1mKf7W4dZio/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.ph/YfuSx|archive-date=2023-09-14|retrieved=2023-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=TeleSUR|title=Ukraine Has Lost 71,500 Soldiers in Counteroffensive: Putin|date=2023-09-12|url=https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Ukraine-Has-Lost-71500-Soldiers-in-Counteroffensive-Putin-20230912-0010.html|archive-url=https://archive.ph/hLk1m|archive-date=2023-09-14|retrieved=2023-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|author=Lou Robinson, Sophie Tanno, Tim Lister and Byron Manley|newspaper=CNN|title=Seeking a breakthrough: A visual guide to Ukraine’s counteroffensive|date=2023-09-08|url=https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2023/09/world/ukraine-war-counteroffensive-maps-guide-dg/|archive-url=https://archive.ph/WRiA6|archive-date=2023-09-08|retrieved=2023-09-14}}</ref>

During diplomatic talks, Ukraine and Russia have agreed upon humanitarian corridors to allow displaced persons to flee war zones safely.<ref>{{News citation|newspaper=Reuters|title=Ukraine says talks with Russia agreed on humanitarian corridors|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-talks-with-russia-agreed-humanitarian-corridors-2022-03-03/}}</ref>

[[Al-Qaeda|Al Qaeda]], Hyatt Tahrir al-Sham, and other islamist jihadist groups are joining alongside Ukrainian neo-Nazis to fight against the Russians, similarly to their original task in [[Operation Cyclone]].<ref name=":02">{{News citation|date=2022-03-08|title=450 Arab and foreign extremists from Idlib arrive in Ukraine|url=https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/450-arab-and-foreign-extremists-from-idlib-arrive-in-ukraine}}</ref><ref>{{News citation|title=Al Qaeda Fighters Join Ukraine|date=2022-03-13|url=https://youtu.be/BJFHxsS23Sw}}</ref>

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine has lost 23 thousand soldiers during the conflict;<ref>{{News citation|newspaper=RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCY|title=Russian Defense Ministry to publish data on military deaths from Ukrainian documents|date=2022-4-16|url=https://tass.com/defense/1438729?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&utm_referrer=en.wikipedia.org}}</ref> however, the Ukrainian government claims merely 10 thousand of its solders have been lost during the conflict.<ref>{{News citation|author=Claire Heald|newspaper=BBC|title=10,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed, Kyiv says|date=2022-6-11|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61764008?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=62a45eb8a48d0547a34bfcc2%2610%2C000%20Ukrainian%20soldiers%20killed%2C%20Kyiv%20says%262022-06-11T11%3A28%3A41.032Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:a87e683d-139b-43c4-9e75-e63f285d618c&pinned_post_asset_id=62a45eb8a48d0547a34bfcc2&pinned_post_type=share}}</ref>

Since the beginning of the conflict, at least 61,207 Ukrainian troops were killed and 49,368 wounded up to 21 September 2022 according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The number of Russian troops killed amount to 5,397.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=RT|title=Russia reveals military losses in Ukraine|date=2022-09-21|url=https://www.rt.com/russia/563213-ukraine-donbass-military-losses/|retrieved=2022-09-22|quote="Initially, the Armed Forces of Ukraine amounted to between 201,000 and 202,000 people, and since then they have suffered losses of around 100,000, with 61,207 killed and 49,368 others wounded," [Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu] said.}}</ref> In addition, over 7 million refugees have fled Ukraine. Of these, over 2.8 million have fled to Russia, which has taken in more refugees than any other country.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=UN Refugee Agency|title=Ukraine Refugee Situation|date=2022-11-17|url=https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116022311/https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine|archive-date=2022-11-17|retrieved=2022-11-17}}</ref>

Germany violated its recent pattern of neutrality by sending weapons to Ukraine.<ref>{{News citation|journalist=[[Richard Medhurst]]|date=2022-03-02|title=Germany Sends Weapons to Ukraine, Breaks with Neutrality|url=https://www.rokfin.com/post/76665?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Campaign&utm_campaign=New+Post+Email|newspaper=[[Rokfin]]}}</ref>

== Attempted peace deals ==
After negotiating in Istanbul on 29 March 2022, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a negotiated settlement that would have Russia withdraw to its position from 23 February, when it controlled [[Crimea]] and the Donbass republics. In exchange, Ukraine would agree not to join NATO and instead receive security guarantees from other countries. British Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] intervened to sabotage the agreement and continue the war.<ref>{{Web citation|author=[[Ben Norton]]|newspaper=[[Geopolitical Economy Report]]|title=West killed peace proposal to end Ukraine war, Russia supported negotiated settlement|date=2022-09-23|url=https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/09/03/west-peace-proposal-ukraine-russia/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206084946/https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/09/03/west-peace-proposal-ukraine-russia/|archive-date=2023-02-06}}</ref>

== Reactions ==
[[File:UN General Assembly ES-11-1.svg|thumb|UN General Assembly resolution ES-11/1 demanding immediate Russian withdrawal from Ukraine.Green: ForYellow: Abstained

Red: Against]]
[[File:US support for Ukraine poll.png|thumb|Perceived reasons for U.S. support for Ukraine by country.]]
[[File:EU support for Ukraine.png|thumb|Perceived reasons for [[European Union|EU]] support for Ukraine by country.]]
[[File:Ukraine war poll.png|thumb|Most Westerners want to prolong the war in order for Ukraine to retake all lost territory while people from Russia and the [[Global South]] want the war to end as soon as possible.]]
[[File:Russia strength poll.png|thumb|People from [[Republic of India|India]], [[Republic of Turkey|Turkey]], and [[People's Republic of China|China]] believe the war made Russia look stronger while Westerners believe it made Russia look weaker.]]
[[File:End Ukraine wall poll.png|thumb|94% of Statesians and 88% of western Europeans (France, Germany, and UK) support a negotiated end to the war.]]

=== From the West ===
All major [[Imperialism|imperialist]] countries, including the [[United States of America|United States]], United Kingdom, [[Canada]], [[Japan]], and most [[European Union]] countries, sanctioned Russia after it began its military operations on February 24,<ref>{{News citation|journalist=Al Jazeera Staff|date=2022-03-03|title=List of sanctions against Russia after it invaded Ukraine|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/25/list-of-sanctions-on-russia-after-invasion|newspaper=[[Al Jazeera]]|retrieved=2022-03-08}}</ref> and as a result, Russia became the most sanctioned economy in the world.<ref>{{News citation|journalist=Nick Wadhams|date=2022-03-07|title=Russia is now the world's most-sanctioned nation|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-07/russia-surges-past-iran-to-become-world-s-most-sanctioned-nation|retrieved=2022-03-09}}</ref> On March 7th, twenty Russian [[Bourgeoisie|capitalists]] were also sanctioned by Japan.<ref>{{News citation|date=2022-03-07|title=Japan sanctions 20 more Russian businessmen, officials — MFA|url=https://tass.com/world/1418497|newspaper=Russian News Agency TASS|retrieved=2022-03-10}}</ref> The Russian government compiled a list of countries who have taken hostile actions against the country.<ref>{{News citation|date=2022-03-07|title=Russian government approves list of unfriendly countries and territories|url=https://tass.com/politics/1418197|newspaper=Russian News Agency TASS}}</ref>

The [[bourgeois media]] of the [[United States of America|United States]] has been hypocritically feigning support for the citizens of Ukraine while completely disregarding the humanity of those who suffer under the USA's own wars.<ref>{{News citation|title=Hypocrisy of the West Is Unbelievable" {{!}} Richard Medhurst on Ukraine|url=https://youtu.be/lwkMBge05IA|journalist=[[Richard Medhurst]]}}</ref><ref>{{News citation|newspaper=Ron Paul Institute|title=Washington's Crocodile Tears Over Ukraine's Destruction|date=2022-02-25|url=http://ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2022/february/25/washingtons-crocodile-tears-over-ukraines-destruction/|journalist=Daniel McAdams}}</ref>

79% of French people blame the USA and/or NATO for starting the war, and 46% blame Putin or Russia. In Germany, 51% of people blame the USA or NATO and 29% blame Putin or Russia.  The French poll allowed people to blame both sides, but the German poll only allowed one choice.<ref>{{Web citation|author=[[Ben Norton]]|newspaper=[[Geopolitical Economy Report]]|title=USA & NATO responsible for Ukraine war, German & French public say in poll|date=2023-08-21|url=https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/08/21/us-nato-responsible-ukraine-war-germany-france-poll/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908122732/https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/08/21/us-nato-responsible-ukraine-war-germany-france-poll/|archive-date=2023-09-08}}</ref>

=== From the Global South ===
[[State of Eritrea|Eritrea]], [[Islamic Republic of Iran|Iran]], [[Republic of Nicaragua|Nicaragua]], [[Republic of South Africa|South Africa]], and [[Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela|Venezuela]] blamed NATO for the war. [[Republic of India|India]], [[Mexican United States|Mexico]], [[Islamic Republic of Pakistan|Pakistan]], and many other [[Global North and South|Global South]] countries, including over a dozen countries in [[Africa]], remained neutral. [[Mahathir Mohamad]], the former president of [[Malaysia]], said that the conflict was caused by "Europeans' love of war."<ref name=":2">{{Web citation|author=[[Ben Norton]]|newspaper=[[Geopolitical Economy Report]]|title=Many Global South countries blame US/NATO for Ukraine war, not Russia|date=2022-03-28|url=https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/03/28/global-south-blame-us-nato-ukraine-war-russia/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306064126/https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/03/28/global-south-blame-us-nato-ukraine-war-russia/|archive-date=2023-03-06|retrieved=2023-04-02}}</ref>

=== From communist movements ===

==== Ruling ====
The [[Communist Party of Cuba]] released a statement calling for a solution that guarantees security and sovereignty for all, describing NATO's progressive expansion as a military siege.<ref>{{News citation|date=2022-02-28|title=“Cuba advocates a solution that guarantees the security and sovereignty of all”|url=https://en.granma.cu/cuba/2022-02-28/cuba-advocates-a-solution-that-guarantees-the-security-and-sovereignty-of-all|newspaper=Granma|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228164107/https://en.granma.cu/cuba/2022-02-28/cuba-advocates-a-solution-that-guarantees-the-security-and-sovereignty-of-all|archive-date=2022-02-28}}</ref>

The [[Democratic People's Republic of Korea]] backed Russia's actions in Ukraine and claimed that US provocations and military aggression are entirely to blame for the present situation.<ref>{{News citation|date=2022-02-26|title=The U.S. Should Not Shake International Peace and Stability at the Basis|url=http://www.mfa.gov.kp/view/article/14444|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227002204/http://www.mfa.gov.kp/view/article/14444|archive-date=2022-02-27}}</ref>

[[People's Republic of China|China]] and [[Socialist Republic of Vietnam|Vietnam]] have both remained neutral while maintaining friendly relations with Russia.<ref name=":2" />

==== Non-ruling ====
The [[Communist Party of the Russian Federation]] has expressed support for Putin's aims to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine, while also calling for the strengthening of local self-government.<ref>{{News citation|date=2022-03-02|title=The Response to External Pressure Must Be a Radical Change of International Policy|url=https://cprf.ru/2022/03/the-response-to-external-pressure-must-be-a-radical-change-of-international-policy/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302144216/https://cprf.ru/2022/03/the-response-to-external-pressure-must-be-a-radical-change-of-international-policy/|archive-date=2022-03-02}}</ref>

The [[Party for Socialism and Liberation]] in the United States has made a statement describing how the intervention was the result of NATO provocations against Russia.<ref>{{News citation|journalist=Party for Socialism and Liberation|date=2022-02-24|title=PSL Statement on Russia’s Military Intervention in Ukraine|url=https://telegra.ph/PSL-Statement-on-Russias-Military-Intervention-in-Ukraine-02-25|newspaper=Liberation News}}</ref>

The [[Communist Party of Britain]], while opposing NATO expansion, called Russia's military offensive unjustified and demanded a withdrawal of troops. It also pointed out that the unilateral Russian recognition of the DPR and LPR undermines the founding principles of the [[United Nations|UN]] and gives imperialist powers an excuse to abuse such methods against other nations.<ref>{{News citation|title=Stop the war - start the peace|url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/stop-war-start-peace|newspaper=Morning Star|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228090419/https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/stop-war-start-peace|archive-date=2022-02-28}}</ref><ref>{{News citation|title=For peace and a just solution to the conflict in Ukraine|url=https://www.communistparty.org.uk/for-peace-and-a-just-solution-to-the-conflict-in-ukraine/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301190552/https://www.communistparty.org.uk/for-peace-and-a-just-solution-to-the-conflict-in-ukraine/|archive-date=2022-03-01}}</ref> It supported the [[Stop the War Coalition]]'s call for the withdrawal of Russian troops.<ref>{{News citation|title=Yes, Russia should pull out — but Nato's warlike manoeuvres must end too|url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/e/yes-russia-should-pull-out-natos-warlike-manoeuvres-must-end-too|newspaper=Morning Star|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222194209/https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/e/yes-russia-should-pull-out-natos-warlike-manoeuvres-must-end-too|archive-date=2022-02-22}}</ref>

The [[Socialist Labour Party (UK)|Socialist Labour Party]] said the conflict can be resolved quickly, but only with a neutral Ukraine. It criticized the Communist Party of Britain's ''[[Morning Star]]'' in its recent coverage of Ukraine.<ref>{{News citation|journalist=Arthur Scargill|title=Scargill's reply to the Morning Star|url=https://www.socialistlabourparty.org/post/scargill-s-reply-to-the-morning-star|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307195208/https://www.socialistlabourparty.org/post/scargill-s-reply-to-the-morning-star|archive-date=2022-03-07}}</ref>

The [[Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)]], on the basis that NATO has been conducting a three decade long slow-motion war against Russia, welcomed Russia's military challenge to NATO. It called denazification the surest way to peace.<ref name=":0">{{News citation|date=2022-03-01|title=Kiev junta facing defeat as Russia roots out fascist militias from Ukraine|url=https://thecommunists.org/2022/03/01/news/ukraine-kiev-junta-facing-defeat-russia-roots-out-fascist-militias/|newspaper=Proletarian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301214648/https://thecommunists.org/2022/03/01/news/ukraine-kiev-junta-facing-defeat-russia-roots-out-fascist-militias/|archive-date=2022-03-01}}</ref> The party criticized Stop the War's platforming of activists calling for imperialist escalation, as well as its call for a Russian withdrawal.<ref>{{News citation|date=2022-03-08|title=Renegacy of Stop the War on display once again at ‘antiwar’ events|url=https://thecommunists.org/2022/03/08/news/stop-the-war-renegacy-exposed-again-antiwar-movement-corbyn/|newspaper=Proletarian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308172322/https://thecommunists.org/2022/03/08/news/stop-the-war-renegacy-exposed-again-antiwar-movement-corbyn/|archive-date=2022-03-08}}</ref> It welcomes Russia's recognition of the DPR and LPR.<ref name=":0" />

The [[Portuguese Communist Party]] expressed its deep concern about developments in the situation in Eastern Europe, the current situation and that its recent developments are inseparable from decades of political tension and growing confrontation between the USA and NATO against the Russian Federation, on the military, economic and political planes, in which the continuous enlargement of NATO and the systematic advance of the installation of military assets and contingents of this political-military bloc increasingly closer to the borders of the Russian Federation.  Calling for a solution that guarantees security and sovereignty for all, describing NATO's progressive expansion as a provocation.

"The situation in Ukraine cannot but be dissociated from the 2014 coup d'état, promoted by the USA, NATO and the EU, carried out by fascist groups, and which led to the imposition of a xenophobic and warmongering regime, whose violent action is responsible by the worsening of fractures and divisions, by the discrimination and denial of fundamental rights and citizenship of the population, and by the outbreak of war in that country. The PCP reaffirms the need to develop initiatives that contribute to de-escalation and that favor a process of dialogue with a view to a peaceful solution to the conflict, as well as the promotion of peace and security."<ref>{{Web citation|author=PCP|newspaper=pcp.pt|title=Sobre os recentes desenvolvimentos no Leste da Europa|date=2022-02-22|url=https://www.pcp.pt/sobre-recentes-desenvolvimentos-no-leste-da-europa}}</ref>

==Information warfare==
===Censorship===
In response to the crisis, Western governments and corporations have been actively censoring voices that promote alternative narratives, notably those emerging from Russia or Russia-aligned states. Almost immediately after the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, the European Union banned RT and Sputnik.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Patrick Wintour, Jennifer Rankin and Kate Connolly|newspaper=The Guardian|title=This article is more than 2 years old
EU to ban Russian state-backed channels RT and Sputnik|date=2022-02-27|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/feb/27/eu-ban-russian-state-backed-channels-rt-sputnik|retrieved=2024-03-24}}</ref> [[Reddit]] has banned links to Russian media.<ref>{{News citation|journalist=Todd Spangler|date=2022-03-03|title=Reddit Bans Links to Russian State Media Across Entire Site|url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/reddit-bans-links-to-russian-state-media-1235195612/|newspaper=Variety}}</ref> The previously uncensored [[search engine]] [[DuckDuckGo]] began censoring Russian news outlets because of the war.<ref name=":1">{{News citation|title=Alternative Search Engine DuckDuckGo Will Censor Sites ‘Associated With Russian Disinformation’|url=https://www.visiontimes.com/2022/03/10/duckduckgo-information-censorship-russia-ukraine-war.html|newspaper=Vision Times}}</ref>

[[Wikipedia]] has also become a major disinformation website, denying the genocide of Russians in Donbass as well as spreading other misinformation. Wikipedia also praises the [[NAFO]] neo-Nazi space<ref name=":5" /> and presents the information warfare in an extremely biased way.<ref name=":4" />

In an effort to help netizens circumvent Western propaganda about the situation, ProleWiki has collected information about [[Alternative social media platforms|alternative social media sites]].
===Propaganda===
The [[Government of the United States of America|US government]] has been briefing [[TikTok]] influencers to promote the NATO/US narrative.<ref>{{News citation|journalist=Sara Cook|date=2022-03-11|title=White House briefs social media influencers on Ukraine crisis|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-tiktok-white-house/|newspaper=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{News citation|journalist=[[Richard Medhurst]]|date=2022-03-12|title=CRINGE! White House Hires TikTokers to Spread Anti-Russian Propaganda|url=https://youtu.be/Qs7FjpeaXuE}}</ref>
==References==
<references />
[[Category:2022 Russo-Ukrainian conflict]]
[[Category:History of Ukraine]]
[[Category:History of Russia]]
[[Category:Wars]]
[[Category:Pages to be protected]]