Ukraine Challenges to Sovereignty

Question 1

What background is there to Ukraine?

Answer 1

• lower-middle income country
• GDP falling recent years
• contested politically throughout history
• gained independence during the collapse of Soviet Union, 1991

Question 2

What was difficult to achieve during the collapse of the Soviet Union and how did this impact Ukraine?

Answer 2

• democracy was difficult to establish

- this led to 2013 Civil unrest & support of separatists in military conflict by Russian Federation

Question 3

What factors of Ukraine, caused sovereignty to become challenged?

Answer 3

• geographical positioning - between Russia & countries of EU
• political divisions - Russian-speaking East & Ukrainian-speaking West
• ethnic disparities - Ukrainians (78%) & Russians (17%)
• inability to build national identity -> widespread corruption, unfair elections, unfavorable government policies
• dependency on Russian energy

Question 4

What challenges were there to the Government of Ukraine?

Answer 4

• creating fairness in elections
• solving human rights issues (IDPs)
• reducing energy dependence on Russia
• improving health, education & welfare systems

Question 5

What impacts were there on the people of Ukraine?

Answer 5

• annexation Crimea, 2014 -> 1.47 million IDP at Lugansk & Donetsk region
• evacuees sent to dormitories, disused huts & sanatoriums -> vulnerable - lack income, poor shelter, healthcare /medicines & food
• 7000 deaths ❌and 2x injuries - 300 shot down from civilian aircraft
• Debaltseve bombed -> damaged housing, services, workplaces, communities & livelihoods (damaging important rail link transporting goods from Russia)

Question 6

What impacts were there on the places of Ukraine?

Answer 6

• heavy fighting at Donetsk airport
• damage to: nature reserves, industrial plants (coal mine, chemical works, oil refinery & explosives factory)
• increased forest fires
• Dombass suffered loss of power, water & gas