The invasion caused Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II, with around 7.2 million Ukrainians fleeing the country and a third of the population displaced. Everybody thought the mighty Russian military would steamroll the hapless Ukrainian forces.
In February and March 2014, Russia invaded and subsequently annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine without facing any resistance. This event took place in the aftermath of the Revolution of Dignity and is part of the wider Russo-Ukrainian War.
So when Russia invaded Ukraine again this year, everyone thought it would meet the same fate. But Russian President Vladimir Putin made one big mistake. He underestimated the resilience of his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a former comedian and actor.
As expected, Russians captured large number of Ukrainian territory in quick time. But after initial success, the tables are turned after nearly seven months. The reports from international media suggest Russian military is battered and bruised. The Russians are making a hasty retreat. Russian troops in Ukraine are ‘retreating in panic’ and abandoning equipment.
Ukrainian forces have reclaimed more than 2,000 square miles of territory in their counter-offensive. Ukrainian troops piled pressure on retreating Russian forces Tuesday, pressing a counteroffensive that has produced major gains and a stunning blow to Moscow’s military prestige. Russia acknowledged that it has withdrawn troops from areas in the northeastern region of Kharkiv in recent days.
The Ukrainian President is now having the last laugh. While the Western media credits supply of modern military hardware to Ukraine for change in the country’s fortunes in the conflict, it’s actually the leadership of Zeleskyy that has made the difference. He made a critical decision once Russia began its attack. He stood on a street in Kyiv, made a selfie-style cell phone video and said: I am here.
He knew that he might well die there, but he was not going to leave. He’s talked not just to the Ukrainians, he’s talked to people around the world. Zelenskyy has masterfully harnessed the media and galvanised the world. It’s just amazing the diversity of people who this person has resonated with.
When the Americans wanted to evacuate Zeleskyy from Ukraine he famously said: “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride”.
Seeing their leader standing his ground to be with his people, the common Ukrainian people’s sagging morale got a boost. They developed a stomach to fight back.
Looking at the determination of Ukrainians who stood their ground despite the barrage of shellings by Russian military and ghastly murders of unarmed civilians, the West led by USA started supplying military hardware to the war. Today there is a definite shift in the tide. Ukrainian military officials claimed that Russia’s death toll in Ukraine passed 50,000 on Tuesday, amid a wider effort to push Russian troops out of the occupied southern Kherson region.
While it is difficult to ascertain the claims by Ukraine, one can assume that the casualty figures of Russian military in Ukraine conflict should be somewhere near the numbers quoted as there hasn’t been any rebuttal from Russia on these claims.
After being largely sedated in its response to the Russian invasion, now even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had express his displeasure to Putin at the just-concluded Shanghai Corporation Organisation meeting in Uzbekistan. The war in Ukraine would test even the most hardened political operator: millions forced to flee their homes, thousands (including many civilians) killed or injured, evidence of Russian war crimes mounting.
Yet Volodomyr Zelenskyy, a relative novice head of state, has not just risen to the challenge, he has been widely praised and admired for his exemplary crisis leadership.
His commitment to serve his people has been called pivotal. He has been described as charismatic – although this alone is no guarantee of success, given charismatic leaders can still lead their nations to destruction.
And it’s Zelenskyy’s repeated displays of courage that seem to really strike a chord with many. He has emerged as a crisis leader.
Respected is commanded, not demanded it is said. Zeleskyy through his ability to stand ground and lead from the front, has led to entire world lauding his leadership ability. He has certainly earned a lot of respect irrespective of the final outcome of the conflict.
It’s been, however, exactly the opposite with Vladimir Putin, who has made more enemies than friends, not only outside his country but also within.
