War in Ukraine (March 7, 2022)

(Editor's note: The below was provided byKhrystyna Dmytryshyn, a foreign exchange student from Ukraine that spent time as a student at Lamar High School in 2019-2020. While attending school in Lamar, she also helped out at the Lamar Democrat.)

No Dignity, Just Cowardice: Russian Troops Open Fire During Evacuation Of Ukrainian Civilians

The situation in Ukraine on March 5 2022:

Yesterday was the 10th day since the war started. The scale at which it unfolds constantly becomes more extensive; Russia's actions threaten not only Ukraine, but the entire Europe. On March 4, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an emergency address, the threat to nuclear security was the main highlight. The Russian army opened fire near Energodar's nuclear power plant at night on March 4. The President is calling for IAEA's help because the consequences of a potential explosion could be fatal for the whole of Europe. Fortunately, the Armed Forces of Ukraine rapidly and effectively established their full control over the nuclear plant on March 5.

Even though Energodar is under Ukraine's control, many other threats for Ukrainian civil citizens still remain intact. Mariupol, Kharkiv and Kherson. People in these cities experience unstable mobile connections, Russian provocations such as fake protests supporting the Russian government, hunger and casualties. Reasonably, the Ukrainian government insists on establishing humanitarian corridors in order to evacuate people from the cities mentioned above. The civilians are to be given immediate help by volunteer organizations and the Red Cross teams. Unfortunately, Ukraine is dealing with the Russian army, an army that does not deserve to be called such; it is an organization that murders children,civilian men and women and uses the ones who are left as a living shield. Russia impedes on creation of a humanitarian corridor. This is what we are going to talk about.

The Concept of AHumanitarianCorridor And Why It Is Crucial For People In Ukraine

There is a common situation during war when not all civil population is evacuated in time before the military actions begin. The concept of a humanitarian corridor was created as a means to save as many lives as possible during situations like this. It isa special type of temporarily neutral, no-fly and no-drive zone that gives the possibility for safe transit of humanitarian aid and evacuation of the civilians.

Due to the Russian military invasion and active military actions in the country's eastern regions, the Ukrainian government has established a Coordination Headquarter for Humanitarian and Social Affairs. Thousands of people had lost their homes or had been left without access to water, food, medicine and other necessities. This Coordination Headquarter will promptly coordinate volunteer initiatives, international humanitarian organizations and funding from an account created specifically for donations on humanitarian needs. Nowadays, the first and the main goal for the Coordination Headquarter for Humanitarian and Social Affairs is to help evacuate people from the country's eastern regions where active military actions take place.

On March 3 2022, Ukraine and Russia held a discussion on developing ways to address humanitarian issues, including the evacuation of people and the delivery of food and medicine to victims of shelling. A working group that took part in the discussion consisted of representatives of Ukraine and Russia, as well as the representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross as a mediator. The next day, on March 4, the Coordination Headquarter determined the routes for the humanitarian corridors and the date of their approval. It was decided to run these corridors on March 5, 2022.

Russian Army Opens Fire During EvacuationIn Mariupol

The most urgent need was to evacuate people from Mariupol. Mariupol, an industrial center, is regarded as one of the key targets for Russian troops because of its economic value and location, which will help Russia establish a land corridor between Crimea and Russia.

The city has suffered from constant bombardment in residential quarters. Basements and bomb shelters are overcrowded, people are trapped there without light or means of communication. The suburbssimply no longer exist - it is a total ruin. The Ukrainian government decided to evacuate the civilian population immediately. From 9:00 to 4:00, there was supposed to be a "quiet mode".

The central leadership of Ukraine has received confirmation from the Russian Ministry of Defence that the passage from Mariupol is safe, Mariupol received a guarantee of silence. The residents were informed and started gathering for a safe evacuation.

However, by the time the people were ready, the army of the Russian Federation began shelling with heavy weapons along the corridor the civilians were supposed to use. Evacuation failed. There is no silence now. Russia has broken agreements, even the ones made with the mediation of the Red Cross. Similar situations occurred in Irpen (the city near the capital) when the occupants blew up the railway tracks, making evacuation from the planned point impossible. Humanitarian supplies of food, drinking water, medicine, insulin etc. cannot arrive at the hottest points on time or at all; the occupants have blocked the civilians' access to any humanitarian aid.

While the agreements are not respected on the Russian side, the right for life, the right for free movement, the right for property and the right for freedom continue to be violated in the temporarilyoccupied territories.

Crime and Punishment. Russia Violates The Declaration of Human Rights and The Geneva Convention, Ukraine Demands Justice

By neglecting the agreement on the humanitarian corridor, the Russian Federation has violated a number of international laws and declarations. Simply take a look at the Declaration of Human Rights created and enshrined by the General Assembly. One doesn't have to go far. At the very beginning of the declaration, Article 3 reads: "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person."By shelling civilians in the no-fly and no-drive zone, the Russian Federation has violated this article. Russia encroaches on the lives of people who have the right to move safely in the humanitarian corridor. The Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians during the war, accepted in 1949, can be the following example.

Article 18 states that doctors have special protection, as they provide medical care to both the military and vulnerable groups, such as pensioners, women,and children. No assault can be made on these groups of people, but the Russian army shoots despite all agreements. Article 21 of the same convention reads: "Convoys of cars or ambulances on land or specially equipped ships at sea, transporting wounded andsick civilians, the disabled and women in labour, are respected and protected ..." However again, we see that this rule has been violated.

These are the very few crimes of the Russian army against humanity. Russia is neglecting the rules of war, shellingcivilians and violating humanitarian corridor agreements. Does the world really need to wait even longer for Russia to break even morelaws and commit more war crimes? If so, we are left with a community that ignores its own declarations and indulges in observing sadism. The correct answer here is to stop Russia's crimes. We must stop this war. NATO must close the sky over Ukraine and bring all those who started and continue the war with Ukraine to justice.

We will keep you updated on the battle thatdefines the continent's future.

#StandWithUkraine

Contributing authors: Daria Ahafonova, student of politics at Ukrainian Catholic University, deputy head of the student government media team - Mediablock UCU; Hanna Shypilova, a student of politics at Ukrainian Catholic University, director general of the MUN Club UCU, Ukrainian patriot and activist; Anastasia - Bohdana Kutsa, a student of politics at Ukrainian Catholic University, English teacher and editor, Kateryna Panasyuk,student of politics at Ukrainian Catholic University,FLEX 18-19' alumna, content creator and writer.

https://president.gov.ua/news/na-vikonannya-domovlenostej-dosyagnutih-na-peregovorah-treto-73349?fbclid=IwAR2ZvHsGxa2AcQtEnIokk70i87UWDFocmela5Z2HMEWStmMidDLP1_JkYXo

https://www.president.gov.ua/news/prezident-utvoriv-koordinacijnij-shtab-z-gumanitarnih-ta-soc-73289

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https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/995_015#Text

https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/995_154#Text

AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, Emilio Morenatti (March 5, 2022)

Evacuation in Mariupol.

CNN/Photo by Timothy Fadek

A Ukrainian soldier carries a baby across a destroyed bridge on the outskirtsof Kyiv, the city of Irpin, on March 3.

Photo by Anton Herashchenko

Morning in Mariupol.