LibGuides: VCE Global Politics Unit 2: Global Connections: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Keeping Up to Date with Conflict Developments

#StandWithUkraine: Latest News on Ukraine - EU European External Action Service
Latest news from the EU regarding the conflict. Includes press releases, information pieces, human face stories, FAQs and useful links.
Russa-Ukraine war at a glance - The Guardian
Updated daily, this newspaper site summarises the most significant developments of the conflict.
Ukraine - ABC News
Updated news and analysis of events in the Ukraine/Russia conflict.
Ukraine crisis - SBS News website
Updated news on the Ukraine/Russia conflict.
A visual guide to the Russian invasion of Ukraine - Bloomberg
Updates of the conflict with supporting graphics and photos, dating back to the build up of Russian military personnel prior to the invasion.

Access Australia This link opens in a new window
Search the full text of Australian newspapers, including today's editions, for news articles, analyses and editorials on the Ukraine/Russia conflict.
Remote access for Loreto staff is via the VPN.
Remote access for Loreto students is via username and password - contact the Library for details.

Access Australia - Loreto User Guide
This is an introductory guide to accessing, browsing and searching newspapers and newspaper articles in the Access Australia database.

Global Responses - Sanctions

Infographics of EU sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine - EU
This page shows infographics that summarise the different types of sanctions the EU has applied against Russia
EU response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine - EU website
Comprehensive information on the EU's reaction and response to the conflict. A timeline and the details of each package of sanctions against Russia is provided, as well as a statement regarding the EU's solidarity with the Ukraine.
Russia sanctions regime - Australian Government (DFAT)
Russian invasion of Ukraine: UK government response
How the United States is holding Russia and Belarus to account - United States (US Dept of State)
The sanctions against Russia are working - EU European External Action Service (16/7/22)
This article argues that sanctions are working but that "strategic patience" is required for the sanctions to have full effect.
How Well Are Sanctions Against Russia Working? - Spiegel International (1/7/22)
"The European Union spent months preparing comprehensive sanctions against Russia in the event of an invasion of Ukraine. The measures are deeper than anything else ever passed in Brussels, but are they working?"

Seizing Assets of Russian Oligarchs

US launches 'KleptoCapture' task force to crack down on Russia's elite. So what is an oligarch? - ABC News
From yachts to lavish estates, tracking Russian assets seized so far - CNN Business
Examples of assets seized, and the circumstances under which the seizures were justified.
Enforcing sanctions against listed Russian and Belarussian oligarchs: Commission's “Freeze and Seize” Task Force steps up work with international partners - European Commission (EU)
Description of the establishment of the European task force, working in unison with other international task forces.

The rise and fall of Russian oligarchs. 2022. Youtube video. 12 min.

TNCs withdraw from Russia

CNN. 2022. McDonald's, Coca-Cola leave Russia in response to invasion. Youtube video. 9 min.

Over 1,000 Companies Have Curtailed Operations in Russia—But Some Remain - Yale (08/22)
This Yale list, which grew from 28 originally to over 1000 in the following months, details companies that have withdrawn, scaled back or still operating with Russia. The list can be manipulated so that you can see responses from companies within specific countries.
Here are the companies pulling back from Russia - CNN (04/22)
Lists TNCs that have either withdrawn or pulled back operations with Russia from industries including automotive, aviation, IT, energy and metals, food/beverage and retail.

Profile - Volodymyr Zelensky

Zelenskyy: The Story (SBS, 2022). 55 mins.

Volodymyr Zelensky's Biography - President of Ukraine official website
Basic biographical information. This page also links to the latest statements, videos and press releases from the president.
Volodymyr Zelensky - Britannica School
Background information on Zelensky, from his career as an entertainer, his transition into politics and the Ukranian presidency, and early actions during the Russian invasion.
How Servant of the People — a TV show starring Volodymyr Zelenskyy — is helping him win the PR war against Russia - ABC News
This article describes the intersection between the TV show Zelensky starred in and his subsequent political career and profile as President. It analyses his popularity, and his personality against that of Putin.

Zelensky: The Man Who Took on Putin (SBS, 2022). 30 mins.

Ukraine's candidacy to join the European Union

'The end of Putin': This is why Ukraine is seeking EU membership and what happens next - SBS News
What EU membership status would mean for the Ukraine and for Russia.

Nine News Australia. EU agrees to put Ukraine on path to membership. 2022. Youtube video. 2 min.

Protection of Ukraine's Displaced Persons

EU announcing the historic agreement immediately activating the temporary protection directive, which was adopted in 2001 but, until now, remained unused. Mar 4, 2022. Youtube video. 4 mins.

European Union/Ukraine: EU Member States Start Implementing Temporary Protection Directive - Fragomen
Information on the EU's Temporary Protection Directive for residents leaving the Ukraine.

United Nations and the Conflict

The United Nations and Ukraine: Explaining the UN's role - Better World Campaign
This article outlines the UN's responses to the conflict in terms of humanitarian support, mitigating nuclear & biological weapons attacks, war crimes and Security Council measures.

CBC News. The impact of Russia's veto power in the UN Security Council. Online video. 8min.

An explanation of the veto power and the role of the UN in halting Russia's war in Ukraine. Note that the video is prior to the new mandate introduced at the end of April

UN takes a step towards addressing 'veto problem' which stopped it condemning Russia - The Conversation (28/4/22)
An explanation of the UN Security Council's "veto problem," the General Assembly's new mandate to address it, and an opinion as to its likely effectiveness.
'Terrible things have happened': Russia suspended from UN human rights body - The Age (8/4/22)
The UN suspends Russia's membership on the UN Human Rights Council over war crimes allegations.

War Crimes - The Age Series

The Age wrote an article series, based on victim and witness statements, detailing apparent war crimes committed in the Ukraine, including torture, unlawful killings and abductions.

Part 1 - The missing. The International Criminal Court has declared Ukraine a "crime scene." (16/7/22)
Note this article covers 3 pages.
Part 2 - The torture cells. "We will kill you all anyway." (17/722)
Part 3 - The resistance. Out of war and death blooms a resistance. (18/7/22)
Note this article covers 2 pages.
Part 4 - The destruction. How carnage is raining down on Ukrainians (19/7/22)
Note this article covers 2 pages.

Profile - Vladimir Putin

Becoming Putin (Foreign Correspondent, 2022). 32 mins.

Vladimir Putin's biography - President of Russia official website
Information on Putin's childhood and family background, and his career achievements up to his re-election in 2018.
Vladimir Putin - Britannica School
Solid introduction to Putin and his actions over each of his presidential terms, including earlier conflict with the Ukraine and intervention in Syria, his relationships with leaders and countries in the West, the Salisbury novichok attack, the removal of presidential term limits, and the lead up to the current conflict with Ukraine.
Understanding Vladimir Putin, the man who fooled the world - The Guardian
As assessment of Putin over many years as a strongman, authoritarian style ruler.

Putin's Road to War (Four Corners, 2022). 46 mins.

Background to Russia's invasion of the Ukraine

Timeline: The events leading up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine - Reuters
"Timeline of Ukraine's fraught relationship with Moscow since it won independence in 1991 and the events that led to the current conflict."
Explainer: Why Did Russia Invade Ukraine? - US News
"Experts say the cause of the military conflict can be tied to a complicated history, Russia’s tensions with NATO and the ambitions of Vladimir Putin."
Understanding the Roots of Russia’s War in Ukraine - Bloomberg
Explains the history of the countries and the relationship of their peoples, the lead up to the war, and Putin's justification for the invasion.

NATO and the Conflict

Ukraine conflict: What is Nato and how is it changing? - BBC News (29/6/22)
A good background to NATO, its expansion to the east of Europe, applications to join from Nordic countries and where the Ukraine and Russia fit in.

NATO moves to expand the alliance and boost defenses to counter Russia (PBS) Online video, 30/6/2022. 7min.

NATO's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine - NATO
A page containing "information about NATO and its relationship with Ukraine, and the latest news on NATO and Allies’ responses to the ongoing war."
Outcome of the Madrid NATO Summit June 2022 - European Parliament
This summary document outlines the outcomes of the Madrid NATO summit. It is clear that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has influenced NATO's assessment of the long-term future of European security and its new strategic concept.
The fall and rise of NATO - Russia's invasion of Ukraine has revitalised the world's largest military alliance ... - Canberra Times (2/7/22)
This opinion piece reflects on the changed position of Russia in the world and its impact on NATO and other alliance in the last decade. While the threat from Russia is most pressing, it also notes concerns over China.

War Crimes - Allegations and Investigations

Russia, Ukraine & International Law: On Occupation, Armed Conflict and Human Rights - Human Rights Watch
In Q & A style, this article is informative in outlining the laws of war - lawful and unlawful conduct, the obligations of parties involved in conflict and who can be held responsible for violations, and how. Human Rights Watch is one of a number of NGOs that have been documenting evidence of human rights violations in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC, on the Situation in Ukraine: Receipt of Referrals from 39 States Parties and the Opening of an Investigation
Support from countries which has allowed the ICC to expedite investigations into alleged crimes in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Understanding the International Criminal Court
This document will help you understand the operations and structure of the ICC, and definitions of the crimes that come within its jurisdiction - genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.
EU supports the International Criminal Court investigation
Details commitment of the EU to support the ICC, particularly around compiling, managing and processing evidence.
How the ICC could prosecute Putin - Boston Review (29/9/22)
An outline of evidence documented to date by various organisations/reports set against applicable international doctrines/laws. Importantly, it discusses how Putin could be personally prosecuted before the ICC and what it means for the ICC as an institution.

Domestic courts in Ukraine

BBC News (19/5/2022). Russian soldier pleads guilty in first war crimes trial of Ukraine conflict. Online video. 3 min.

Criminal liability for #RussianWarCrimes - Office of the Prosecutor General (Ukraine)
The Office of the Prosecutor General in the Ukraine has set up a website for victims and witnesses to provide testimony and evidence of war crimes, to be used in Ukranian courts and the ICC.