On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, there have been at least 140,000 buildings destroyed; 42,295 deaths; and 15,000 people reported missing, according to Reuters.

In a March 1, 2022 National Public Radio article, Rachel Treisman said that during the Russian Mission in Geneva, Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, wanted to “seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine.” Putin also wanted to ensure that Ukraine would not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) because that would be a threat to Russia. Originally, NATO was created to challenge Russia’s expansion in Europe after World War II. One year has passed since the invasion, and Russia is still in Ukraine. The question on so many people’s minds after a year of horror is why hasn’t this war ended?

“The war hasn’t ended yet because Russia hasn’t gotten what they wanted,” said American History teacher Mr. Mike Garzio. “Historically, Russia tends to go on these territorial expansions. In the past 10-20 years, Ukraine has developed a new identity, which Russia didn’t anticipate. Historically, Kyiv was the capital of the Russian empire. So, I think Russia misread the situation, which is why they’re kind of stalemated.”

According to Alia Shoaib from businessinsider.com, the war in Ukraine could continue. Shoaib described it as “a war of attrition.” Shoaib explains that this means, “Rather than taking more territory, Russia’s objectives in the current stage of war seems to be to weaken Ukraine’s resources, economy, and army.”

American History teacher Mr. Sean Feddema said, “Russia is pushing around an image that they’re an economic superpower. You see so many flaws in their battle plan. They had a convoy that was on its way to Kyiv, and then it ran out of gas. Between the failure of the Russian military leadership, and the Ukrainian will-power to defend their country, I think that’s why the Russia-Ukraine war is still going on.” According to a March 1, 2022 New York Times article by Megan Specia, the convoy traveled 40 miles.

The war is not just hurting Ukraine. On Aug. 23, 2022, The International Rescue Committee, a non-profit humanitarian relief agency, explained on its website, “Ukraine is historically a large exporter of grain. For the first 5 months of the war, Ukraine was unable to export its grain through its primary shipping routes through the Black Sea.” In addition to grains, countries such as the U.S. are dependent on Ukraine for platinum and palladium, but because of the war, America is not able to get supplies that are used for construction, IT services, manufacturing, and electronics.

Ms. Aneta Nikolaeva said, “The only reason to put an end to the war would come from inside Russia. I don’t see it happening soon, though. It’s a shame that so many people belonging to the Slavic family are killing each other. Tremendous amounts of cultural inheritance are being destroyed.”