Will Russia Revert to Soviet Era Rule?
There is a good chance that life in Russia could become similar to life for the citizens of the Soviet Union during the Cold War era due to the recent invasion of Ukraine. The similarities are beginning to be recognized economically, politically, and socially.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, sanctions were placed on them, cutting them off from worldwide economic trades, causing resources to become thin. For example, energy imports from the U.S. are now on hold, causing gas prices to skyrocket. A rise in gas prices in the U.S. has been strategically set to pressure other countries to do the same.
Prices are being raised on other things as a result of sanctions, making it harder to withdraw money from the banks in Russia. This makes access to necessary things such as medicine much more difficult, putting the lives of the Russian people in danger. Russian citizens are now also at much greater risk of homelessness and starvation. In addition, similar to the Cold War, Russian citizens are vulnerable to indoctrination due to widespread misinformation from news sources throughout the country. This causes political and social strains on the citizens of Russia.
Russia will most likely not become the superpower like the Soviet Union became during the Cold War. It is more likely the outcome will lead to a decline in power due to the loss of soldiers in the invasion of Ukraine and the decline in technology for missiles and other technological weaponry due to the war and the sanctions. The purpose of the sanctions on Russia by the US is to deprive Putin of the economic resources he uses to fund the war. Actions like this increase political pressure to get other countries in Europe to implement sanctions. Some of the sanctions placed on Russia that will affect Russia can cause a decrease in food, gas, technology, and medication. Russia’s army will most likely decline in power due to the invasion of Ukraine. It is unknown how many Russian troops have died in the invasion, but the U.N did say that in Ukraine, 564 civilians were killed, and there could be more. “The power of Russia is in decline but still considered a threat,” a NATO Chief said.
This war is sparked by Putin, and it seems as if Putin wants to go back to the old ways, meaning going back to the USSR, which also means attacking Ukraine since it was once a part of the USSR. Lots of protesters in Russia currently disagree with Putin. Thousands of anti-war protesters are being arrested, and it seems as if Russia is going through a revolution.
Ukraine, which was once a part of the USSR, is now an independent country fighting for freedom. As Russia closes in on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, the country Ukraine is loading itself up with any forms of protection it has, and other countries are donating weapons and gear to the country. America isn’t going to defend Ukraine; however, it is doing all it can, such as donating guns, rockets, vehicles, and other weaponry to Ukraine. So we are stuck doing all that we can, but yet unable to go out there and fight, watching as the result of Putin’s actions affect the people and families of Ukraine, the global economy, and the Russian people.