The War for Ukraine

Introduction

The Invasion caught a lot of people and countries off guard, there was a lot of reason to think that such a war would be ill-advised but in Neonphage's case, it was the war that helped show the terrible imminent future fast approaching. This war was an example of what Brave Men and Women can do even if the world was to ignore their suffering in the name of self Interest.
It is also what caused the Great Russian Military to reform it's self and become a dangerous Mechanized Power in the imminent World War 3. It has a long Legacy, with the war for Ukraine's Liberation on going even today, in the 2070's. It had far more consequences then just all of that as well.

The Conflict

Prelude

Before the Invasion there was period of rapid military build up in Belarus and on the Russian border, as well as Occupied Crimea and the Separatist Regions. Ukrainian Intelligence made the mistake of believing Putin will act rationally and not invade Ukraine but instead pressure the borders to get the results they want. Even if Putin never showed himself to be overly caring of standards and protocol, the idea of a European War was incomprehensible for the Pre-War world.
Putin had actually moved the majority of Russian forces away from Eastern Borders to face Europe, and specifically Ukraine.

Deployment

In terms of Deployment, Russia had the head start as all of it's forces were perfectly positioned but the Ukrainian Army was still deployed and set up to fight the Civil War and maintain the current Borders of Ukraine. It's possible this inflexibility enabled Russia to invade in the first place. However within a couple of Weeks the Ukrainian Army and various volunteers were able to swiftly set up deployments and react to the encroaching Russians.

Battlefield

The Battlefields were diverse and stretched over Ukraine's Borders at first but over the year and through into 2023 they pushed their way through Ukraine. Fighting in villages, tunnels, forests, swamps, Radioactive environments, in Cities, on coasts, in the sky and on the Cyberspace. No where was sacred, even hospitals, churches, orphanages and much worse was turned into battle zones or received heavy shelling either by Napalm, White Phosphorus, Thermobaric bombs and finally MOABs towards the end of the war.

Conditions

Conditions were harsh, the Ukrainian Army was not ready to feed and supply the number of recruits it got and depended on various sources to get the job done. For the Russian Forces it was worse, the Russian Army was not ready for the war either and lost many officers and even generals. Ill-developed battle Tactics led to many casualties and vulnerability to Drone strikes and ambushes.
Traps were frequent and many Russians died of Starvation, Frigid temperatures, malnutrition , dysentery, Guerilla action, and much much, much more. Russians also suffered confusion and discrimination as they were unaware for a long time that they were invading Ukraine and called it a 'Special Military Operation'. Russians also had to contend with Live streamers, and people recording movements and posting them on social media sites which caused immense casualties as the Ukrainian Army simply had to check their Twitter for that day.
Russian Economy also took something of a nose dive which made fighting much harder.
Citizens also had no mercy, in the beginning of the War, Warcrimes were not as severe as they were in Previous Russian Conflicts but as Ukrainian Resistance mounted, so did too the Russian Cruelty, from flattening entire villages. Poisoning food and water, to deploying chemical warfare and indiscriminate fire on every citizen. Mass slaughter was done to break Ukraine's back. 
Eventually it worked.

The Engagement

In the first Month a lot of engagements were mass ambushes and surgical strikes but as the war went on it became a European repeating of Vietnam. Engagements were frequent but small, with Ukrainian forces hammering the Russians and the Russians sending more and more to overwhelm the Ukrainians. However Time and Supply was on Russia's side as Ukraine's suppliers diminished with time and their Global Guarantees were eventually mute.
Putin Essentially counted on the Globe giving up because it'd mean Ukraine's fall and Ukraine did indeed fall. Towards the end of the War, Russia grew bold and began overrunning Ukrainian Positions with the sheer size of the forces they were deploying all at once. Ukrainian's steadily ran out of ammo and got stuck in a cycle of killing a lot of Russians and being forced to retreat anyway.

Outcome

Immediately after the war, Europe rapidly militarized and began formulating an Anti Russian Strategy that focused on a future war instead of the Current one. It also caused the anxiety that led to various countries rapidly kicking up their Military spending and gearing their economies for long lasting wars.

Aftermath

The Long Term effects were much worse, Firstly the Shadow Government's cause gained legitimacy from the Invasions and Right Wing Extremists were boldened by Russia, gaining huge gains in the German system. Poland grew militaristic and closed off from the rest of Europe and especially to Russians. Great Russia also began it's full information as a result of the war including the immense Military that would steam roll Europe with the Help of Germany, Imperial China and a Crypto Fascist America.
The War also turned Ukraine into a hotbed of near constant Warfare as Rebel Forces struggle for literal Generations for Freedom against the Russian Empire.

Historical Significance

Legacy

The War lives in Infamy, much like how the flag 'Remember Poland' exists, a flag also exists with the words 'Remember Ukraine'. It is often touted as the single greatest Geopolitical Blunder in Modern history and if properly acted against, c properly, could of prevented the Successful formation of the Great Russian Empire and the ensuing World War that ruined the World Forever.
Of course the millions of forgotten Dead cannot be forgotten, as a Country was cruelly butchered in the name of Imperialist Ideals. To this day in the 2070's, Ukrainians fight an on-going war to free Ukraine by any means necessary and to resist the Fascist Occupiers of their Homeland.  Another Legacy of the War was the massive deprivation of food to the Middle East and Africa which caused much instability and eventually caused a series of horrific conflicts that tore the two places apart for the rest of the 21st century.
This War showed that War never Changes.

In Literature

After the War, Russians built an entire franchise off revising the Ukrainian war making them out to be horrible monsters oppressing the Native Russians of their land. Russians were written as the great global heroes working to Liberate the world by force. Great Russia to this day still uses the conflict as a major rallying point for their armies and their society.
It is very much seen in a similar light to how Americans see the War for Independence.

Included under Conflict

World War 3 Prelude

Conflict Type

War

Start Date

2014 CE (Invasion in 2022 CE)

Ending Date

2023 CE

Conflict Result

Russian Annexation of Ukraine

Location

Europe & Middle East

Belligerents

Ukraine & Allies

• Eagle Battalion
• Polish Vanguard
• Ukraine

Led by

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy

CSTO

• Belarus
• Russian Federation

Led by

• Vladimir Putin

Strength

580,000 - 890,432 Manpower
10,000 Vehicles
1,200 Aircraft
1 Navel Asset

1.15 Mil - 2.14 Mil Manpower
20,000 Vehicles
8032 Aircraft
12 Navel Assets

Casualties

469,000 KIA
369,000 MIA
7,993 Vehicles
1,199 Aircraft
1 Navel Asset

645,213 KIA
150,321 MIA
12,655 Vehicles
6782 Aircraft
11 Navel Assets

Objectives

1. Defend Ukraine from All Threats (Failed)
2. Evacuate all Ukrainian Civilians (Partially Successful)
3. Last until 2024 (Failed)
4. Motivate NATO to Assist (Failed)
5. Seize Lost Resources (Partially Successful)
6. Scuttle Chernobyl (Successful)
7. Severely Damage Russian War Capability (Extremely Successful)
8. Deal with Azov Battalion without Compromising War Effort (Successful)
9. Buy Post Soviet States time (Successful)
10. Tarnish Putin's Reputation (Successful)

1. Capture Ukraine within Weeks (Failed)
2. Capture Chernobyl Nuclear Elements (Failed)
3. Prevent NATO Assistance (Successful)
4. Capture Ukraine by the end of 2022 (Failed)
5. 'De-nazify' Ukraine (Well Azov is dead???)
6. Prove Russian Might (Partially Successful)
7. Isolate Ukrainian Resources (Successful)
8. Stall NATO Advance (Partially Successful)
9. Secure Russia's Oil Future (Partially Successful)
10. Capture Ukraine by 2023 (Successful)