Last week marked 1000 days since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Development magazine has followed and reported on the development from an early stage. For example in these texts and conversations.
The full-scale invasion in was launched on February 22, 2022, but had been prompted by Russia's invasion and occupation of the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula back in 2014. In this article gives writer Elise Olsson a look back at the background to the invasions.
All seconded personnel from the Swedish embassy in Ukraine were quickly evacuated and the embassy was temporarily relocated to Poland. One month into the full scale invasion spoke FUF with Sida's former head of aid in Ukraine, Cecilia Chroona, about how the agency restructured its work to continue supporting Ukraine's population under completely new circumstances.
Getting the help to reach those who need it most was far from easy. Julia Lundén Azzedine soon wrote about how Ukraine's 2,7 million residents with some form of disability were at risk of being left without protection and support.
A significant part of Sweden's historical development cooperation with Ukraine has gone towards promoting democracy and good governance. But during almost five years of full-scale war, no democratic elections have been held in the country.
During Almedal Week 2022 was suitable the writer Andreas Klawitter on talking to representatives of Sweden's municipalities and regions and the International Center for Local Democracy about how Sweden can best continue to support democracy and decentralization in Ukraine.
It was not only Swedes who were quickly forced to leave Ukraine. In 2022, it is estimated that 11,6 million people were forced to flee, of which 5,7 million applied outside of Ukraine.
While the refugees were welcomed with open arms at an initial stage, concerns about cost soon began to become a factor and support for refugees and host organizations began to take hold in some neighboring countries.
In Romania met FUF correspondent Daniel Díaz single mom Tanya from Odessa who shared her tricks for making ends meet. In another report we also get meet Iryna Yetskalo who started the educational center Ukr Kids Club teaching Ukrainian primary school students in Timisoara, Romania.
For some it was easier to flee the country than for others. In connection with the Ukrainian government declaring a state of emergency, Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 were prevented from leaving the country. Thousands of African students tried to leave the war zone, but many testified to special treatment and discrimination at the Ukrainian border, reported Hibo Yusuf Ahmed in April 2022.
Food production became a hot issue at a very early stage. Ukraine's important grain exports were halted after Russia cut Ukraine's export routes through the Black Sea. In an interview with Anne Poulsen, Nordic director of the UN's World Food Programme, Elise Olsson told about the effects on world hunger.
Once grain exports resumed, it led to price dumping in neighboring countries. Major protests among EU farmers followed. FUF correspondent Jakob Kerren reported from Brussels.
It is clear that the full-scale invasion had repercussions far beyond Ukraine's borders. In November 2022 conversed Central Asia groups' Frida Ekerlund with researchers Dr. Diana Kudaibergenova and Zhanibek Arynov on how geopolitical currents have affected Kazakhstan's foreign policy.
In the debate about Ukraine, the focus is often on military equipment and financial support for the current situation in the country, but the reconstruction of the country is something that many aid actors are already discussing.
The independent writer and former Sida manager Jan Bjerninger read two books about Vietnam and had reason to reflect on how the lessons of Vietnam reconstruction can inspire the reconstruction of Ukraine when peace comes.
Magnus Walan (Diakonia) also wrote about lessons for Swedish foreign, development and aid policy in a guest analysis for Development magazine. In the initial stage of the full-scale war, his five accomplices to the government of the day were:
- More aid to promote democracy, equality and prevent conflicts - not less
- Sweden must support – not block – measures against tax havens, corruption and for transparency
- Effective regulatory frameworks for companies and financial institutions to respect human rights - close the loopholes
- Faster conversion to renewable energy benefits both the climate and human rights and prevents conflicts
- Stop exporting military equipment to dictatorships
Right now, the conflicts in the Middle East are a reminder of how complex the tasks of journalists become when propaganda and false information abound and first-hand testimonies are difficult or impossible to obtain.
- Today, wars are not only waged on the battlefield, but much of the warfare takes place within the information bubbles we live in, writes the writer Tanya in a report from Almedalsveckan 2022.
I Tanya's report she tells us more about how Ukrainian journalists work to convey news with life as stake.
These were some texts and seminars organized by the FUF during the first 1000 days of full-scale war in Ukraine. We will continue to report on developments until peace comes and well beyond.
Do you want to delve further into developments in Ukraine? You will find all our previous texts and seminars here.
Is there something in the text that is not correct? Contact us at opinion@fuf.se