Ukraine Becoming another Syria: Brief Overview and Major Events during the Conflict

The crisis situation in Ukraine began as far back as the date of February 2022, when it was invaded massively by Russia, which made it very strikingly similar to a long-lasting Syrian civil war. Both conflicts are typical of serious humanitarian crises, complex international involvement, and changing geopolitical dynamics. In this comprehensive overview, we explore the key events, strategic interests, and global implications of the Ukraine conflict, drawing comparisons to Syria, which we covered in detail in another article titled “Syria: Videos of its Past, Politics and Humanitarian Analysis.”

Historical Context and Recent Developments

Though their beginnings go as far back as 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support of separatists in Eastern Ukraine, the invasion of February 2022 marked the beginning of sharp escalation into full-blown conflict. Russia undoubtedly aimed to occupy significant Ukrainian territories. Since then, the battles were hot, most prominently in Kyiv, Mariupol, and Bakhmut. The strengths of Ukrainian forces were astonishing, resisting the Russians through the toughest challenges.

Russia’s annexation of Crimea, 2014

Toward the end of February 2014, unidentified military figures, later confirmed to be Russian personnel, surrounded the airports in Crimea, a majority-Russian peninsula in Ukraine. The Crimean autonomous assembly was then seized by pro-Russian forces.

In March 2014 the assembly issued a declaration of independence and a subsequent referendum on union with Russia was held. Russian election officials, 95.5% of voters supported union with Russia. The results of that referendum are not internationally recognised, According to BBC

Since then, Russia has maintained its control over Crimea and supported pro-Russian separatist forces who also took control of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine (the Donbas) in 2014.

Russia’s Strategic Victories and Conundrums

Russia has nearly won strategic successes, much like during the 2015 war in Syria. It has occupied the entire part of the Donbas region and further annexations of territories, which bolster its bargaining power at the negotiating table for a probable peace deal and, thereby, strengthen its position in the strategy. However, Russia is faced with major challenges, including fierce resistance from Ukrainians, far-reaching international sanctions and the heavy price of global isolation for the economy. All these aspects are reminiscent of the campaign in Syria, where military success was often associated with local complications and external opposition.

Humanitarian Crisis

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is catastrophic, just like during the Syrian conflict. The recent fighting has caused heavy loss of civilian life and vicious damage to infrastructure, particularly in Mariupol and the Donbas region. The country has been severely disrupted by its economy, while an emerging refugee crisis has only worsened the dire plight of the Ukrainian people. Substantial international aid notwithstanding, Ukraine now confronts daunting tasks in sustaining defense capabilities as well as economic rehabilitation; once again, one feels oneself reminded of the protracted suffering that was witnessed in Syria.

Situations comparison of Ukraine and Syria

Situation in Ukraine

Situation in Syria

U.S. Role and Aims

While the United States has provided sweeping military aid, economic assistance, and foreign policy support to Ukraine in a campaign to check Russian aggression and build NATO’s strategic position in Eastern Europe, these efforts do not come from a vacuum. For instance, based on previous reasons used for U.S. interventions, the most-cited factors include strategic interests and geopolitical competition.

According to bloomberg, Putin warned that NATO would be directly at war with Russia if it allowed US and European long-range missiles to be used against targets on Russian soil. This would, he said, change the entire nature of the conflict. The threat was more explicit than in the past and therefore concerning. But it’s also unconvincing — unless he chooses to do some actual escalation himself. It takes a little unpacking to explain why that is.

on 1 September 2021 to mark three decades of bilateral ties. Second, on 10 November 2021, the two countries signed the US-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership, which emphasised “support for each other’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders constitutes the foundation of our bilateral relations”, According ORF

European Interest and Role

European countries have vocally and actively shown their support for Ukraine in either direct financial aid or economic sanctions imposed on Russia. Poland, Slovakia, and all the Baltic states, which are more involved due to regional security challenges and deep-seated resistance to Russian expansionism, stand out. The European Union has firmly impressed a series of important sanctions that would further dent Russia’s capability to continue the war. The European engagement is purely strategic, looking to preserve stability and answer Russian influence in a manner similar to that taken for other crises, such as Syria.

Global Stakeholder Interests

The Ukraine conflict has significant implications for global stakeholders, just like the international dynamics saw in the Syria conflict. For instance, U.S. interests and European interests want to retard further Russian advances and ensure regional security, while Russia’s allies, China and Iran, perceive this event as the opportunity to increase their global influence. China will increase trade with Russia mostly in the energy industries; on the other hand, Iran will benefit from a smaller amount of attention given to it by the U.S., thus making it hard for its regional plans to be realized. Turkey acts as a mediator in balancing the interests both ways between Ukraine and Russia, demonstrating its aim to fortify its grip in diplomacy and economic compensations.

Indeed, countries in the Middle East that have invested in energy are watching the Ukraine conflict very closely, knowing well that instability can impact global energy markets. This is one example of what’s witnessed regarding the complexities in Syria where both regional and international players have navigated their interests within a protracted crisis.

Escalations of Ukraine

Struggling Escalations of Ukraine

As this report has gone to press, Ukraine is becoming more desperate, with battles growing more intense and major cities becoming severely crippled. But the question over contested areas-the heart of Bakhmut and the greater Donbas region-neoflags the seriousness of the conflict. Ukrainian forces had suffered heavy losses and begun to flail in thwarting Russian advances. The increased violence and humanitarian toll call into question the extreme stakes for Ukraine, balancing its immediate agony with longer-term concerns about sovereignty and stability.

The Ukraine conflict-that has many similarities with the Syrian war, therefore reflects the broader pattern of geopolitical struggle and humanitarian crisis. The war, with many intense military engagements and many international interests, lies within the complex interplay between regional and global interests. As this situation continues to unfold, the effects of actions and responses on the part of leading international players will significantly mold the direction of Ukraine’s conflict and its broader impact on global stability.