VITAL SIGNS - State Actors, the Maidan Revolution, International Response - Pingry Students Taking the Pulse of the World
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VITAL SIGNS
Pingry Students Taking the Pulse of the World
Putin vs. The World: the War in Ukraine, Russian Disinformation, Non-
State Actors, the Maidan Revolution, International Response
May 2022 Vital Signs
In This
Issue
History Rhymes: Maidan
Alex Wong 2
History Rhymes:
Ukraine’s Humanitarian Crisis
Sarina Lalin
Dezinformatsiya: Past and
5 Maidan
Present
Will Young 7
State-Parallel Militias
Alexander Henry 10
Resurgence of Anchorage, Alaska
Spencer McLaughlin 12 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Switzerland By Alex Wong This attempt to rot the Ukrainian govern-
Sasha Bauhs 14 War has descended on the European ment internally was made most evident by
continent once again. Many fight bravely for the actions of President Viktor Yanukovych.
When Russia Fights the sovereignty of their country, while millions Yanukovych won the 2010 Ukrainian Presiden-
Olivia Buvanova 16 more flee for safety. Every day, new reports tial election and immediately began to express
of the horrors of the War in Ukraine strike his true colours as a quisling in every sense
COVID-19 in Russia terror and fear into the hearts of everyday of the word. From the onset, it was clear that
Brian Chin 18 people around the world. Needless fighting and Yanukovych was more interested in protect-
suffering have been caused in Ukraine, Russia, ing Russian interests rather than Ukrainian
Molotovs vs. Marching and across the world. However, this is not the interests. President Yanukovych agreed to
Jeremy Betz 20 first time that Ukraine has had to fight for its extend the lease on the Russian Naval base in
independence… Sevastopol and refused to acknowledge the
South America and Russia Ukraine has had a long and proud Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a genocide by the
Joaquin Stevenson 22 history, from the days of the Kyivan Rus and Soviet government, in line with the narrative
Prince Volodymyr of Kyiv to the present-day from the Kremlin (Ray). Yanukovych also
Oil Crisis democratic Ukrainian nation. However, imprisoned political opponents, most notably
Aanya Shah 24 since the collapse of the Soviet Union in former Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko,
1991, Russian authorities, especially Russian a pro-Western politician. The efforts by the
International Response President Vladimir Putin, have attempted to Ukrainian government to sign a free trade
Sophia Deeney 26 undermine the Ukrainian state. This attempt to agreement with the European Union were also
rot the Ukrainian government internally was stifled by Yanukovych in 2013, with many
suspecting that it was at the direction of Rus-
VITAL SIGNS sian President Vladimir Putin that Yanukovych
diverted course at the last minute (Ray). The
Pingry’s Journal of Issues & Opinion seditious and treasonous actions of President
Vol. 28, NO. 2 · The Pingry School, Basking Yanukovych would eventually come to pass
Ridge, NJ 07920 · MAY 2022 with the anger of the Ukrainian people.
Copy Editors Even before President Yanukovych
Editors-in-Chief
Sasha Bauhs shot down the European Union Free Trade
Sarina Lalin
Olivia Buvanova agreement, tensions had already begun simmer-
Alex Wong
Jeremy Betz ing in Ukraine, especially in the capital, Kyiv.
Aanya Shah On the 21st of November, 2013, a crowd of 300
Associate Editor: youth gathered in Maidan Square, in the centre
Spencer McLaughlin of Kyiv. The crowd soon swelled to a size of
Faculty Advisor:
Ms. Kathryn Smoot thousands, and many of all ages came from all
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May 2022 Vital Signs
over the capital and surrounding areas to show forces were able to retake Maidan Square which were later changed to live ammunition.
their support for the free trade agreement with temporarily, protestors came back en masse The use of deadly force by the Berkut resulted
the EU (Afineevsky). The atmosphere was into the square once again, protesting peace- in deaths and severe injuries on the protestors’
largely peaceful, and shows of Ukrainian cul- ful, and pushing out the Berkut (Afineevsky). side. President Yanukovych forced a series
ture and patriotism were on full display, as the When the special forces attempted to retake of ridiculous laws down the throat of the
young protestors started building a community Maidan two weeks later, all of the bells in the Ukrainian parliament, outlawing actions such
amongst themselves. The feeling of camara- Mykhalivs’kyi Monastary, an iconic Christian as wearing a helmet or speaking out against the
derie among the protestors was not centred monastery in the centre of Kyiv, rang out, an government (Afrineevsky). Furthermore, Pres-
around race or religion, but rather around a event that had not happened since the Mongol ident Yanukovych frequently hosted meetings
uniquely Ukrainian identity and a desire to join invasion of Kyiv in 1240 (Afineevsky). Whether with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin,
the larger European community, away from through the resounding sound of the bells, or throughout the entire movement (New York
the tight grasp of Putin and the pro-Russian an act of God, more people began pouring into Times). Putin pledged almost a billion dollars
Yanukovych. As protestors marched through Maidan, peacefully but firmly beating back in aid to help President Yanukovych put down
the streets of Kyiv peacefully, the police largely the Berkut Special Forces. From that day on, the protestors. As the tactics of the Berkut and
left them alone, as political opposition leaders protestors continued to occupy Maidan Square, government forces became more intense, so did
made rousing speeches to the large crowds. Po- establishing a thriving protestor community in the resolve and determination of the protestors.
litical heavyweights such as Petro Poroshenko the square, complete with a defence force and Newly formed bands of the Maidan Defence
(future President of Ukraine) and Vitali Klitsc- medical corps. Corps did regular patrols around the square,
hko (future mayor of Kyiv) came out in support The authorities under President ensuring no harm would come to the protestors
of the protestors in Maidan (Afineevsky). The Yanukovych continued to try to dislodge the inside the square (Afineevsky). Furthermore,
patriotic and peaceful protestors, fed up with protestors from Maidan. On top of deploying the members of the defence corps would often
the corruption of the Yanukovych regime and Berkut special forces, President Yanukovych clash with the Berkut and Titushky, armed with
simply wanting to become more involved with hired Titushky to harass the protestors iron shields, slingshots, makeshift barricades,
the larger European community, would have (Afineevsky). The Titushky were thugs who stones, burning tyres, and Molotov cocktails
to come face to face with the full brunt of the were independent of any military or police (Afineevsky). As the death toll began to climb,
rotten regime they sought to change. association and thus could do things that the and Maidan’s makeshift hospitals began to be-
On the 29th of November, 2013, police could not do (Afineevsky). As such, the come overwhelmed with many terribly injuried
President Yanukovych ordered the Berkut Titushky perpetrated horrific attacks against patients from the front line (BBC), many felt
Special Forces, an arm of the Ukrainian armed peaceful protestors, attacking injured protestors frustrated with the lack of progress that had
forces, to storm and take back Maidan Square and temporary hospitals treating injured peo- occurred. Little did the protestors know that a
(Afineevsky), coinciding with his decision to ple, often backed up by their Berkut comrades change would come rapidly and soon.
reject the free trade agreement with the Euro- in arms. Furthermore, the tactics of the Berkut Throughout the entire protest movement,
pean Union. Instead of using traditional plastic special forces became more and more brutal as negotiations had taken place between moder-
batons, Berkut Special Forces used iron batons time wore on. Initially, the Berkut were limited ates in the Ukrainian parliament and self-pro-
to beat and bloody the peaceful protestors in to using iron batons, pepper spray, and tear claimed protest leaders. The negotiations had
Maidan (Afineevsky). Although the special gas. Eventually, they were given rubber bullets, resulted in an agreement to hold elections in
Orthodox priests between Berkut Special Forces and Protestors during the Maidan Revolution ASSOCIATED PRESS
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May 2022 Vital Signs
Protestors during the peak of the Maidan Revolution WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
December of 2014 (Afineevsky). Even so, many saw this as not enough. At the time of the Maidan Revolution, it was hard for many
On the 21st of February, 2014, a commander of the Maidan Defence around the world to grasp how a military and police force meant to
Corps addressed the crowd in Maidan, giving an ultimatum to the Ya- defend its people could so barbarically and brutally subdue peaceful pro-
nukovych regime; either Yanukovych resign immediately, or they would testors, wishing only for an end to a tyrannical regime. Fast forward eight
storm his government and force him to resign (Afineevsky). Further- years and the world must come to grips with an even larger crisis, an
more, protestors began spilling out of Maidan and occupying government invasion of a sovereign nation by its much larger neighbour. Putin once
buildings, grinding the Yanukovych regime to a halt. The events appeared again seeks to install a puppet regime in Ukraine, and it is suspected that
to scare President Yanukovych, as in the early hours of the 22nd of Febru- if successful, he will reinstall Yanukovych to the position of President of
ary, Yanukovych fled from his mansion on the outskirts of Kyiv into exile, Ukraine (Kahn). Nevertheless, the tenacity and courage of the Ukrainian
taken in by his puppet master, Vladimir Putin, and never to step into people will continue to stand the test of time, and face any threat that
Ukraine ever again. attempts to destroy it. Vladimir Putin, hellbent on the destruction of the
With the departure of President Yanukovych, change came Ukrainian culture and identity, failed in 2014, and he definitely will not
swiftly. The Parliament officially impeached President Yanukovych and succeed this time. The world will not stand idly by and will rally the aid
removed all laws imposed by his regime (Afineevsky). Furthermore, of the Ukrainian people. And when all is said and done, Putin will be de-
elections were called for May 2014, and Maidan leader Petro Poroshenko feated, and Ukraine will continue to stand proudly among the sovereign
was elected President of Ukraine. Under his leadership, President Poro- nations of the world.
shenko signed the free trade agreement with the European Union and Works Cited
set Ukraine on a path toward joining the larger European community. Kahn, Jeremy. “Who is Viktor Yanukovych? The former
Furthermore, the Berkut Special Forces were disbanded, and there was a Ukrainian president Putin reportedly wants to put back in power?”
renewed commitment by the Ukrainian military and police to serve the Fortune, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2022, fortune.com/2022/03/02/viktor-yanu-
people rather than the regime. Many rejoiced in the fact that the Yanu- kovych-yanukovich-putin-put-back-in-power-ukraine-russia/. Accessed
kovych regime was over and a new era had begun in Ukrainian history 22 Apr. 2022.
(Afineevsky). The Ukrainian people also had to come to terms with the Ray, MIchael. “Viktor Yanukovych.” Britannica, 5 July 2021,
high price that came with the newfound freedom they gained, many from www.britannica.com/biography/Viktor-Yanukovych. Accessed 22 Apr.
shootings by the Berkut Special Forces (Afineevsky) during the Maidan 2022.
Revolution, of about 125 fatalities and 1,800 injuries. “Ukraine Protest 2014: The Divide, Explained | The New York
The revolution in Maidan had implications that stretched far Times.” YouTube, uploaded by New York Times, 20 Feb. 2014, www.
beyond the borders of Ukraine, influencing various protest movements youtube.com/watch?v=pST_oOK-cdg. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.
around the world. The revolution in Maidan also prompted Vladimir “Ukraine: What happened in Kiev’s Maidan Square?” YouTube,
Putin, angered with the increasing Westernisation of Ukraine, to illegally uploaded by BBC News (British Broadcasting Corporation), 12 Feb.
invade and annex Crimea, as well as sponsor an insurgency in Eastern 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib7EkJD08e4. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.
Ukraine (Vox). The insurgency in Eastern Ukraine has been raging for “Why Russia is invading Ukraine, explained in 2 minutes.” You-
the past eight years and has been a deep source of tension between the Tube, uploaded by Vox, 2 Sept. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-qO-
Russian and Ukrainian governments. Since Maidan, Putin has become 42qjShg. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.
more forthright in his attempts to destroy the Ukrainian state and iden- Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom. Directed by Evge-
tity, using direct military force to undermine the state instead of subtle ny Afineevsky, Netflix, 2015.
political manoeuvres through pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine. Putin’s
efforts have culminated in his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022,
where he has put everything on the line in order to fulfil his sick ideal of
destroying Ukraine, both as a state and a culture.
4|
May 2022 Vital Signs
Ukraine’s Humanitarian
Crisis
FLICKR
By Sarina Lalin As the conflict escalates, civilian casualties and 27 have impacted supplies, and two have dam-
infrastructural damage within the country will aged warehouses (UN News). Ukraine, like the
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on only intensify. Some sources predict that up to rest of the world, has already had to deal with
February 24, 2022, has prompted one of the 50,000 people will be killed as a consequence of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Less than 40% of
greatest humanitarian crises since the end of the conflict in Ukraine. the Ukrainian population is vaccinated against
World War II. With millions of people seeking Many Russian attacks have targeted COVID-19, and the Russian Invasion is further
asylum in neighboring countries and thousands highly populated areas, such as locations near exacerbating the strain on the Ukrainian health
already dead, this ever-growing conflict has schools and hospitals, making the effects of system.
quickly become one of international concern. the war exceedingly detrimental to Ukrainian Experts claim that Europe’s effort to
As the threat of another world war looms, civilians. Within only fifteen days of the war, 47 help the Ukrainian people is the largest display
organizations across the globe are mobilizing civilians were killed by Russian airstrikes that of European mobilization in recent years.
to condemn Russia’s actions and put an end to took place at two different schools in Chernihiv, Poland has taken in more than half of all new
the strife, but the damage that has already been leaving hundreds of additional innocent people migrants, setting up temporary houses, hospi-
done is irreparable. injured. Russia’s utilization of harmful weapon- tals, and reception centers that provide food,
In addition to the war’s 5.1 million ry, including artillery, missiles, and explosives, information, and medical supplies to those who
refugees fleeing Ukraine for other countries, 7.1 has given them the ability to completely alter need them. Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, and
million people, almost a quarter of Ukraine’s normal circumstances in Ukraine, obliterating other European countries have taken in the
total population, have been internally displaced civilians’ homes and decimating entire villages remaining refugees. Around 271,000 people, or
within the besieged country, making this the (UN News). The immense destruction caused around 7.5 percent of all refugees, have made
largest war-related mass migration since the by the Russians has forced Ukrainians to seek their way to Russia. Ireland has declared that all
1990s. An overwhelming majority of those 7.1 refuge in the most unfavorable of conditions, visa requirements for Ukrainians seeking asy-
million individuals are women and children finding shelter in dilapidated buildings and lum will be waived, while the Czech Republic
and, according to the UN, more than one of abandoned metro stations. has withdrawn its entry ban and COVID-19
every two children are currently displaced Attacks on healthcare facilities in limitations on entering migrants. Officials from
(IOM Survey). As of April 21st, the Office of Ukraine have continued to endanger patients the European Union (EU) unanimously en-
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and staff in Ukraine. According to a WHO dorsed a plan to activate the bloc’s Temporary
(OHCHR) reported a total of 5,264 civilian ca- spokesperson, there have been 137 verified Protection Directive, a seldom-used provision
sualties- with 2,345 people killed, including 208 attacks since February 24; 132 of them have that would allow refugees leaving Ukraine to
children. It is speculated that the actual number directly damaged health institutions, 16 of them enter EU countries for up to three years without
is likely to be much higher than this estimation. have impacted transportation such as ambu- having to seek refuge.
lances, 24 have impacted workers and patients,
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May 2022 Vital Signs
The Ukrainian relief efforts do not The Russian military cut off all food, electricity, and one can only imagine the conditions of
stop there. The UN has recently declared $20 medical supplies, and communication networks those who are trapped in the besieged city, cut
million in aid from their Central Emergency as it bombed the city indiscriminately, destroy- off from the rest of the world.
Response Fund and $2.25 billion for human- ing houses and schools, and forcing inhabitants The Ukrainian population, particu-
itarian assistance (Operational Data Portal). to spend entire days in bomb shelters. A hospi- larly the children and elderly people, has suf-
Additionally, to deal with the rapidly changing tal and its maternity department were among fered immensely throughout this war. Never-
situation, the U.S.’s International Committee the targets, as were a theater and an art school theless, their resilience and strength in the face
of the Red Cross, or ICRC, is expanding to ten where several hundred people allegedly sought of conflict are inspiring. Despite the continued
various places across Ukraine, including Kyiv, refuge (Polityuk and Person). attacks against their homes and communities,
Poltava, Dnipro, and Odesa. Trucks are moving Organizations have consistently requested the the Ukrainians have resisted every effort of the
across the country to provide medical supplies safe transit of civilians out of these areas and Russian forces to take their land. Their fight
and other relief, and additional convoys with the entry of impartial humanitarian aid, urging may be admirable, but a lack of food and neces-
critical supplies are expected to arrive in the that the principle of humanity and internation- sary medical assistance has put a vast majority
coming days. The World Health Organization al humanitarian law be respected. However, of civilians in perilous danger. In the name of
has delivered 218 metric tonnes of medical Russia has already denied these requests twice. humanity, it is imperative that we finally put
supplies to Ukraine and numerous diesel gener- Since then, corridors have opened, allowing an end to this strife, and bring the Ukrainian
ators to areas where the power supply is limited residents to take dangerous paths out of the city, people to safety.
or near non-existent. Once the generators are but the need for medical assistance remains Works Cited
delivered, they will help with surgery, trauma (Oliveira). OCHA. “Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis |
and emergency care, internal medicine, and It is prohibited under internation- Topics.” ReliefWeb, 24 Apr. 2022, reliefweb.int/
pediatrics, as well as with treating infectious al law to target civilians and besiege them topics/ukraine-humanitarian-crisis.
infections. Even a brief power outage could indiscriminately during a war. It is also illegal “Russian Attacks on Civilian Targets in Ukraine
have severe ramifications for patients, such as to target certain locations, such as hospitals, Could Be a War Crime: Un Rights Office | | UN
those who require medical oxygen, making and to forcibly relocate people. Consequently, News.” United Nations, United Nations, https://
the generators all the more necessary. A WHO the Organization for Security and Cooperation news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1113782.
official stated that they “will only transfer the in Europe (OSCE) issued a fact-finding report “7.1 Million People Displaced by the War in
generators to their final locations when we can on April 13 concluding that Russia violated Ukraine: Iom Survey.” International Orga-
secure the safety of our staff and the valuable international humanitarian law in invading nization for Migration, https://www.iom.
cargo they are hauling” (UN News), stressing Ukraine and that the targeting of a maternity int/news/71-million-people-displaced-war-
that hospitals and health facilities now only had hospital and a theater sheltering civilians in ukraine-iom-survey.
10 oxygen plants across the country. Mariupol constituted war crimes. The OSCE “Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine and Neigh-
Organizations have deployed more than 60,000 discovered “strong patterns of international boring Countries.” International Committee of
metric tons of food across the country, enough humanitarian law violations by Russian forces the Red Cross, 25 Apr. 2022, https://www.icrc.
to feed two million people for two months. in their conduct of hostilities,” according to the org/en/humanitarian-crisis-ukraine.
Since February 24, 1.7 million individuals in report. The International Criminal Court, the “Operational Data Portal.” Situation Ukraine
Ukraine have been reached through in-kind United Nations, and other governments “should Refugee Situation, https://data2.unhcr.org/en/
food aid to families in surrounding and con- investigate alleged war crimes in Mariupol,” situations/ukraine.
flict-affected areas, as well as $3.6 million in according to a study released on March 21 by “Ukraine: Health Crisis in Mariupol - Ukraine.”
cash-based transfers in areas where markets Human Rights Watch of New York. Those who ReliefWeb, https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/
are operating. Through four UN interagency have been lucky enough to escape report dead ukraine-health-crisis-mariupol.
humanitarian convoys, the UN agency has sup- bodies and ruins filling the streets of Mariupol, Person, and Pavel Polityuk. “Putin Claims
plied 113 tonnes of food to vulnerable families
in the surrounded cities of Kharkiv, Sumy, and
Severodonetsk, enough for 20,000 people for
ten days.
Despite the massive aid operation
around the world, humanitarian needs in
Ukraine are still increasing exponentially.
According to UN refugee spokesperson, Mat-
thew Saltmarsh, “Food, water, medicines, and
medical care, shelter, basic household items,
blankets, mattresses, cash, building materials,
generators, and fuel are urgently needed”(Salt-
marsh). An estimated six million people need
food and money as the attacks on Ukrainian
cities across the country unfold.
One of the most pressing issues
is the situation in Mariupol, where civilians
are in dire need of assistance. On April 21,
Putin claimed victory over Ukrainian troops,
declaring the city of Mariupol liberated. In what
is considered the biggest battle of the Ukraine
War, Putin ordered his troops to blockade the
area, telling citizens to either surrender or die. Ukrainian refugees fleeing into Poland FLICKR
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May 2022 Vital Signs
Dezinformatsiya:
Dezinformatsiya:
Past and Present
GETTY IMAGES
By Will Young the Russians’ advances, grinding many Russian ularly how it is used by Moscow. This topic
units to a halt. These logistical failures have unfortunately receives little coverage in com-
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is, ensured that Russian troops often don’t have parison to Russia’s losses or war crimes. This is
at the time of writing, rapidly approaching its consistent access to vital supplies such as food rather surprising, especially given the preva-
second month. Despite the slowing Russian or fuel. Russia has also suffered massive equip- lence of Russian disinformation in the Invasion
advance and its subsequent regrouping, the ment losses, most notably the recent sinking of Ukraine. It must be asked: what does Rus-
conflict shows no sign of ceasing. The conflict of the cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s sian disinformation look like in the first place?
has also garnered significant international at- Black Sea Fleet. These equipment losses have Generally, Russian disinformation has several
tention, for better or for worse. For Ukrainians, accumulated, and when combined with the key identifying factors. These factors are:
attention has been overwhelmingly positive. fact that Russia has been crippled by sanctions, 1. Repetitiveness.
Ukraine received immediate Western support, have proved costly. This, in conjunction with 2. A high volume of output that comes from
and most nations have denounced Russia’s logistical failures, has had a massive impact on various sources.
actions. The Ukrainians also have had successes the morale of Russian troops, most of whom 3. No commitment to reality.
in combat, and despite being outnumbered in are conscripts, or those called up from reserve 4. A lack of consistency.
manpower and equipment, they have been not- forces. While the damage that the invasion has In other words, Russian disinforma-
ed to have shown remarkable resilience against inflicted on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure tion, or dezinformatsiya, relies on overwhelm-
the Russians. This includes both the stalling has been profound, it does not compare to the ing a target with a torrent of falsehood, with
of Russian advances on the Southern and scale of loss of human life and the atrocities that little regard for whether or not the informa-
Northeastern offensives, as well as a successful have been committed against the Ukrainian tion is coherent (Matthews & Paul). Russia
counterattack in the Kyiv Oblast, a province in people in the process of the invasion. Russia primarily utilizes two different methods for
Ukraine. In the process of thwarting Russian has demonstrated time and time again that it spreading disinformation: social media and
advances and executing effective counter- is willing to go to any length to degrade the conventional media. Russian usage of social
attacks, the Ukrainians have engendered Ukrainian military and population, most com- media as a weapon is fairly well known; Russia
widespread support from NATO and Western monly targeting civilian areas, particularly with will either pay accounts or create bot accounts
allies, including aid and direct shipments of artillery or airstrikes. As bad as it may seem, to spread propaganda, which is aimed at more
military hardware which have helped Ukraine the brutality does not end there. Mariupol, politically fringe groups. These fringe groups,
inflict significant damage on advancing Russian after being under siege for over a month, has on both the left and right, are susceptible to
forces. been almost completely leveled. Russian troops messages that democracy is both inefficient and
On the other hand, the Russian have even gone so far as to execute civilians, as corrupt. Arguably more dangerous, howev-
Armed Forces have become known for constant demonstrated in the Bucha massacre. er, is the usage of conventional media. Sites
failure, despite supposedly being a top-tier In spite of this, an often overlooked aspect of like RT and Sputnik have the appearance of
fighting force. Logistical issues have plagued the conflict is the role of information, partic- conventional media and hire those who have
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May 2022 Vital Signs
the appearance of credible journalists to spread that would be repeated in the 2022 conflict. To could rape Swedish women immune from
disinformation. Additionally, both are offered follow up on this, Moscow would claim that prosecution. These theories would cause such a
in multiple languages, and the former was once Tbilisi was commiting genocide against its panic that they began to spill into conventional
offered through several U.S. cable providers. ethnic minorities, and any subsequent military media. The problem was so out of control that
Ultimately, the goal of the Russian government action against Georgia would be in the name Sweden’s now-former defense minister, Peter
is not to get a potential target to believe the of protecting Georgia’s ethnic minorities. Hultqvist, would be asked repeatedly about
torrent of nonsense that Russian bots, trolls Again, this would be a move repeated in later these theories at press conferences. Disinfor-
and media pump out, but to instead question hostilities conducted against Ukraine. Russia, mation regarding NATO and the West started
what they already know or believe to be true. to further its claims of genocide and help legit- to spread into NATO member states as well.
There isn’t an attempt to hide this either, as RT’s imize the invasion, illegally distributed Russian During NATO exercises in June 2016, a theory
editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan states its passports to South Ossetians and Abkhazians. claiming NATO made Europe a puppet of the
purpose is to provide “a perspective otherwise Even after hostilities ceased, Russia still made US and Germany became particularly common,
missing from the mainstream media echo an attempt to spread disinformation; the echoing theories that rose in Sweden. Forged
chamber” (MacFarquhar). Kremlin spent millions on an intensive media articles and documents started floating around,
Now that it’s been established what campaign attempting to blame Georgia for the including one that claimed Sweden greenlit
Russian disinformation looks like, its historical war. Despite Russia’s best efforts, however, there the illegal sale of artillery pieces to Ukraine.
use should be described. The Russian usage of weren’t very many who believed Russia’s lies. It is fair to say that disinformation had a pro-
disinformation is nothing new. Russia has an The West was well aware that Russian claims nounced effect on the beliefs of Westerners this
extensive and storied history of using disin- of genocide were just a facade for toppling the time around as well; one poll conducted in the
formation, dating back to Soviet times when pro-NATO, pro-EU President Saakashvili, and Czech Republic found that up to 51% of Czechs
theories like “CIA-made AIDS” ran amok in the undermining Western interests in the Cau- had a negative opinion of the United States’
West. While the export of disinformation was cusus. However, despite ultimately failing in role in Europe (MacFarquhar). In response,
widespread under the USSR, it eventually died gaining support, the Russian disinformation European nations finally realized the threat and
down with the collapse of the Soviet Union. experiment in Georgia would prove itself to be started to set up dedicated anti-disinformation
Disinformation remained relatively minimal a useful framework for future conflicts. agencies. However, the Russians would realize
throughout the 1990s, as the fledgling Russian Russia would continue to hone its the remarkable importance of disinformation
Federation was a relatively weak state with skills again in the 2014 Annexation of Crimea as well. Between now and 2014, disinforma-
significant internal problems, ranging from and the subsequent conflict in the Donbas tion campaigns have played an increasingly
internal rebellions to a failing economy. Yet region. Russia, as in Georgia, would use mis- central role in Russian military strategy, and as
once Russia began to get back on its feet, it once information as a way to conceal wrongdoings, a Russian political scientist explained, “Mos-
again started to exert its influence globally, and like the downing of Malaysia Airline Flight cow views world affairs as a system of special
with it, the amount of disinformation coming 17, or to justify military action. Yet this time operations, and very sincerely believes that it
out of Russia rose. By the time Russian troops around, Russian disinformation would be used itself is an object of Western special operations”
would cross the Russo-Georgian border in as more than just a cover; it would be a weapon, (MacFarquhar).
2008, the Russian disinformation operation was targeted toward foreign populations. After the Almost an entire decade of experi-
in full swing. Annexation of Crimea, countries not previously ence in the sphere of misinformation brings
The Russian invasion of Georgia, and part of NATO, particularly Sweden, started us to the 2022 Invasion of Ukraine. Again,
the subsequent occupation of the territories of to debate entering the alliance. Immediately, the Russian military uses similar tactics as
South Ossetia and Abkhazia, would in many there was a torrent of disinformation in Sweden previously seen in history. Russia first tries to
ways serve as practice for the later invasion of regarding NATO. Theories started floating legitimize troop buildup, such as by claiming
Ukraine, being that the invasion of Georgia around, including, but not limited to, theories buildups are merely regular exercises, and that
was based on entirely manufactured pretenses. that NATO would undermine Sweden’s sover- troop presence will go down to regular levels
First, in order to justify the initial building up eignty by invading Russia from Sweden, or by shortly. This time around, many in the West
of troops, the Kremlin announced it was simply secretly stockpiling nuclear weapons in Sweden. bought it, saying that Russia would not be
conducting regular military exercises, a tactic Theories would go so far as to say NATO troops brazen enough to actually follow through with
an invasion. Troops would instead continue
to be built up. With the invasion nearing the
same time, the Kremlin began claiming that the
Ukrainian government was committing ethnic
cleansing against East Ukraine’s ethnic Rus-
sians. These claims would coincide with claims
that Ukraine, despite having a popularly elected
Jewish president, is actually run by Neo-Nazis.
Disinformation about Ukraine would come
from even the highest echelons of the Russian
government, with President Vladimir Putin
personally releasing an essay only a few months
before the invasion, discussing the similarities
between the Ukrainian and Russian peoples,
ultimately claiming they are essentially the
same. While this claim is false, it still garnered
a fair amount of legitimacy in American media,
particularly in more fringe circles.
RFERL Overall, the Russian disinformation
Georgian MRLs firing on separatist positions
8|
May 2022 Vital Signs
REUTERS
A Russian State News employee protesting the war in Ukraine
war has largely been a success. The same, however, cannot be said for Works Cited
the United States. Given the closed-off nature of Russian social media
and the restricted state of Russian conventional media, attempting to Cornell, Svante. “Georgia Feels Russia’s Heavy Hand.” The
counter disinformation within Russia would be nearly impossible, and Guardian, 17 June 2009. The Guardian, www.theguardian.com/commen-
that does not even take into account the poor state on the homefront. The tisfree/2009/jun/17/russia-georgia-obama. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.
United States, while it has made efforts to slow and minimize the spread MacFarquhar, Niel. “A Powerful Russian Weapon: The Spread
of disinformation, has been relatively ineffective. Responses have been of False Stories.” The New York Times [New York City], 29 Aug. 2016,
slow, giving ample time for theories to spread. Even when a response sec. A, p. 1. The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/2016/08/29/world/
occurs, Russian disinformation has already entrenched itself in far too europe/russia-sweden-disinformation.html. Accessed 19 Apr. 2022.
many Americans. Ultimately, Russia’s successes and the West’s consistent Office of the Spokesperson. “Russia’s Top Five Persistent Disinformation
failures paint a grim picture for the future of the war on information. Narratives.” U.S. Department of State, United States Govern-
ment, 20 Jan. 2022, www.state.gov/russias-top-five-persistent-disinforma-
tion-narratives/. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.
Paul, Christopher, and Miriam Matthews. The Russian “Fire-
hose of Falsehood” Propaganda Model: Why It Might Work and Options
to Counter It. RAND Corp., 2016. Perspectives. RAND Corporation,
www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE198.html. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.
Seskuria, Natia. “Russia Is Reenacting Its Georgia Playbook in
Ukraine.” Foreign Policy, spring 2022, foreignpolicy.com/2022/02/22/rus-
sia-ukraine-invasion-georgia-2008-south-ossetia-tskhinvali/. Accessed 22
Apr. 2022.
Untitled. NPR, 17 Mar. 2022, www.npr.
org/2022/03/17/1087287150/putins-warning-to-anti-war-russians-
evokes-stalinist-purges. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.
Untitled. Radio Free Europe, 7 Aug. 2018, www.rferl.org/a/
war-gerogia-ossetia-russia-conflict/29417350.html. Accessed 22 Apr.
2022.
Untitled. Radio Free Europe, 25 Nov. 2021, www.rferl.org/a/
russia-ukraine-war-fears/31579046.html. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.
NBC NEWS
Police arresting a Putin critic during an anti-war protest
|9
May 2022 Vital Signs
State-Parallel Militias
ATLANTIC COUNCIL
By Alexander Henry support from around the world. As Donbas makeup of Mariupol’s defenders is not entirely
Battalion Commander Semen Semenchenko clear, it is generally understood that the Azov
The current situation in Ukraine is put it, “We aren’t anybody’s army, and we don’t Battalion has been the prime factor in its suc-
multifaceted, going well beyond just a conflict have a single sponsor. We have many sponsors, cessful defense so far.
between two nations. The conflict is riddled including just ordinary people who give us as Ukraine’s militias owe their supe-
with the influence of foreign regimes and nu- little as food and water supplies” (Mulford). rior rate of success to their fighters’ higher
merous non-state actors protecting their inter- To the Ukrainians, the fighters in morale. Militia fighters join their respective
ests. One notable category of such influencers these militias are heroes. Ukraine’s militias have militias out of a patriotic desire to defend their
on the conflict is that of state-parallel militias. been shockingly more successful than their country’s independence, but there is a reason
State-parallel militias fall into the category of official counterparts despite being comparative- why militia fighters choose to join volunteer
pro-government paramilitaries; they exist to ly underfunded. According to a 2014 poll by the organizations instead of the country’s official
protect the ruling government and execute its weekly Zerkalo Nedeli, Ukraine’s militias were army. While the higher pay offered by militias
will. State-parallel militias differ from the more more popular than the church and the army, certainly plays a small role in attracting more
common state manipulated militias in that their and their popularity has only risen since Putin’s enthusiastic soldiers, it is dubious that its role
finances are independent of their host, and 2022 invasion as they have become increasingly is a very big factor. Obviously, no soldiers go
their existence is indispensable to the surviv- more relied upon. When war broke out with to war to get rich, and they definitely will not,
al of their host nation. This higher degree of Russian separatists in the Donbas region in since both the Ukrainian militias and military
influence makes state-parallel militias essential 2014, Ukraine’s militias represented the nation’s offer extremely low wages, even by Ukrainian
to state power, rather than a mere supplement only capacity to resist. In the absence of any standards. That being said, the higher morale of
to state power. government armed forces, the militias managed Ukrainian militia fighters can be attributed to
It is estimated that a total of 30 to hold the separatists off until the government the fact that many are motivated by more than
Ukrainian state-parallel militias exist, the most could organize a proper defense. Additionally, an altruistic desire to defend their motherland.
significant of these being the Azov Battalion, the Azov Battalion in particular has achieved Many of Ukraine’s militias, most notably the
Dnipro Battalion, and the Donbas Battalion. shocking military successes. For instance, after Azov Battalion, have been long known for
Although the aforementioned groups have been Kyiv’s forces were unable to defend the strategic harboring far-right and even Neo-Nazi ideol-
officially integrated into the Ukrainian Ministry port city of Mariupol, allowing it to fall into ogies. The Azov Battalion itself has no official
of Internal Affairs, they are still de facto’; almost the hands of pro-Russian separatists, the Azov neo-Nazi allegiances, but the organization has
completely independent, maintaining separate Battalion became instrumental in leading its openly allowed neo-Nazis to join its ranks. It
recruitment, training, and most importantly, recapture. The Azov Battalion has continued is important to note that the Azov Batallion
finances. Though initially funded by wealthy to defend Mariupol even throughout Putin’s has maintained no more than 20 percent of
Ukrainians, these groups now draw financial full-scale 2022 invasion. Although the exact its members who self identify as neo-Nazis,
10|May 2022 Vital Signs
but even this obviously downplayed statistic less susceptible to foreign influence and more premise for a war against ‘Nazis’ in Ukraine.”
seems much higher than should be acceptable. in line with Ukrainian interests. As Charles CBS News, 22 Mar. 2022, www.cbsnews.com/
Addressing a particular Nazi, Alex, involved in Colborne, who “monitors and researches the news/ukraine-russia-war-azov-battalion-putin-
Azov leadership, Andriy Diachenko, a spokes- far-right”, stated when describing the Azov Bat- premise-war-vs-nazis/. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.
person for the Azov Battalion said, “I know talion to The Washington Post, “At its core, it’s Blond, Georges. “Philippe Pétain.” Encyclo-
Alex is a Nazi, but it’s his personal ideology. It hostile to liberal democracy. It’s hostile to every pedia Britannica, 20 Apr. 2022, https://www.
has nothing to do with the official ideology of everything that comes with liberal democracy, britannica.com/biography/Philippe-Petain.
the Azov”, maintaining that Azov was merely minority rights, voting rights, things like that” Accessed 22 April 2022.
employing Alex out of a pragmatic need for (Raghavan). The hostile attitude toward the Clapp, Alexander. “The Maidan Irregulars.”
skilled leadership (Dorell). In response to the democracy of Azov and other similar militias The National Interest, no. 143, 2016, pp. 26–33,
infiltration of the Avov Batallion by neo-Nazis, further supports the possibility of a state-par- https://www.jstor.org/stable/26557305. Ac-
Congress banned US arms from going to Azov allel militia led coup following the war in cessed 23 Apr. 2022.
Battalion. Expressing his support for this move, Ukraine. Dorell, Oren. “Volunteer Ukrainian unit in-
Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) stated, By giving support to and collabo- cludes Nazis.” USA Today, 10 Mar. 2015, www.
“I am very pleased that the recently passed rating with such openly hostile groups, the usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/03/10/
omnibus prevents the U.S. from providing Ukrainian government is putting itself at far ukraine-azov-brigade-nazis-abuses-separat-
arms and training assistance to the neo-Nazi more risk than is justified by the advantage ists/24664937/. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.
Azov Battalion fighting in Ukraine” (Kheel). they gain from collaboration with their parallel Golinkin, Lev. “The reality of neo-Nazis in
Khanna also articulated a desire to see Ukraine militias. Militias like the Azov Battalion both Ukraine is far from Kremlin propaganda.”
disassociate itself from the Azov Battalion and threaten the position of the Ukrainian govern- The Hill, 9 Nov. 2017, thehill.com/opinion/
other similar militias. With the role of Nazism ment, with the possibility of an anti-democracy international/359609-the-reality-of-neo-nazis-
in mind, it can be concluded that perhaps the coup always looming, and undermine Ukraine’s in-the-ukraine-is-far-from-kremlin-propagan-
Azov Battalion (and other militia fighters) feel moral high ground with their neo-Nazi sympa- da/?rl=1. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.
that they are fighting for the role of Nazism in thies serving as fodder for Russian propaganda. Independence Day, Ukrainian national flags
post-war Ukraine, in addition to their country’s With this in mind, Ukraine should follow the flying in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence
independence. advice of the United States government, and Square), Kiev, Ukraine, Europe. Photogra-
Although state-parallel militias have distance itself from its state-parallel militias, on phy. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia
been the white knights of Ukraine, they could both pragmatic, and ethical grounds. Britannica, 25 May 2016.quest.eb.com/sear
simultaneously become the downfall of the ch/151_2567727/1/151_2567727/cite. Accessed
current government. The fact that Ukraine’s Works Cited 22 Apr 2022.
militias are independent, state-parallel or- Aliyev, Huseyn. “Strong Militias, Weak States Independence Day, Ukrainian national flags
ganizations, could definitely serve to entice and Armed Violence: Towards a Theory of flying in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence
Ukrainian patriots with subversive aspirations. ‘State-Parallel’ Paramilitaries.” Security Dia- Square), Kiev, Ukraine, Europe. Photogra-
As a state-parallel organization, with separate logue, vol. 47, no. 6, 2016, pp. 498–516, https:// phy. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia
troops and independent finances, militias like www.jstor.org/stable/26293810. Accessed 23 Britannica, 25 May 2016.quest.eb.com/sear
the Azov Battalion could be a potent king- Apr. 2022. ch/151_2520854/1/151_2520854/cite. Accessed
maker for post-war Ukraine. Much like how “The Azov Battalion: Extremists defend- 22 Apr 2022.
defeated Vichy France fell to Pétain’s authori- ing Mariupol.” DW News, Mar. 2022, www. Jentzsch, Corinna, et al. “Militias in Civil
tarian fascism during World War II, a defeated dw.com/en/the-azov-battalion-extremists-de- Wars.” The Journal of Conflict Resolution, vol.
Ukraine could fall to fascist, Nazi influences. fending-mariupol/a-61151151. Accessed 22 59, no. 5, 2015, pp. 755–69, http://www.jstor.
Though the Azov Battalion has denied that it Apr. 2022. org/stable/24546326. Accessed 23 Apr. 2022.
has any plans to overthrow the Ukrainian gov- “The Azov Battalion: How Putin built a false Kheel, Rebecca. “Congress bans arms to
ernment after the war, the official position has
been contradicted by Azov fighters, who seem
to believe that they will march on Kyiv after the
war is over.
Ukrainians are acutely aware of their
own country’s corruption, and many are openly
hostile to democracy, distrusting what they see
as a broken process that has been undermined
before. In 2014, Ukraine’s democratically
elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, was
overthrown by an (allegedly) US-backed rev-
olution, colloquially referred to as the Maidan
Revolution. The US (allegedly) chose to foment
insurrection in Ukraine after the then president
Viktor Yanukovych upset the West by rejecting
the Ukrainian-European Association Agree-
ment, which would have brought Ukraine into
the West’s sphere of influence. As a result of
Ukraine’s rocky relationship with democracy
and the West, many weary Ukrainians have
flocked to the Azov Battalion, likely feeling that
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
a more authoritarian form of rule would be Maidan Square, Kyiv, Ukraine c. 2017
|11May 2022 Vital Signs
Resurgence of
Anchorage, Alaska
GETTY IMAGES
By Spencer McLaughlin to no longer necessitate a stop, with the fall of continents. Although the blockage of Russian
the Soviet Union and the opening of Russian airspace is not as encompassing as that of Soviet
Shortly after Russia launched a airspace in the 1990s. As of 2020, the interna- airspace, the northern route over the north
military invasion of Ukraine in February, tional terminal saw little passenger traffic. pole and over Alaska is often comparable or
many countries around the globe immediately Despite the lack of international a shorter distance than flying to the south of
responded with sanctions and Russia quick- passenger traffic via Anchorage, the Alaskan Russia, over the Middle East. Anchorage is
ly fired back with sanctions of its own. One airport was the busiest airport in the world for ideally in the path between Europe and Asia on
particular industry that saw a nearly immediate several days early in the Coronavirus pandemic. the northern route. In addition, the distance
impact from these sanctions was the aviation Although passenger numbers remain mod- between Anchorage and Western Europe is ap-
industry. In response to various sanctions est, Anchorage is a logistically ideal stopover proximately 4,500-5,000 miles, and the distance
imposed by Western nations, Russia banned for cargo flights between North America and between Anchorage and East Asia is 3,500-
airlines from over 30 nations from flying in Asia. Aircraft are most fuel-efficient flying 5,000 miles, matching the most fuel-efficient
Russian airspace. While this was a shock to medium-length distances, as takeoff and flight distance for large planes such as the Air-
the aviation industry and is one of the biggest landing both consume large amounts of fuel, bus A330. As Anchorage is the only major air-
impacts on international trade in recent years, but carrying additional fuel is inefficient. As a port located about halfway between Europe and
it is not unprecedented. result, one study found that the Airbus A330- Asia on this northern route, it is the only option
Prior to the fall of the Soviet Union 300 is most efficient when flying routes of about on this route for cargo flights which wish to
in the early 1990s, Soviet airspace was open 4,350 miles, or about 8 hours. Cargo airlines make a stop. Cargo flights which stop between
only to Russian airlines (with a few exceptions), have determined that a stopover in Anchorage Europe and Asia will have the advantage of
resulting in flights often needing to take lengthy is economically efficient, as it helps prevent being able to hold more weight on takeoff as
detours around the USSR, either far to the excess fuel consumption on extremely long cargo and less as fuel which will be burned later
south or over the north pole. During this time, flights that traverse continents. Anchorage has in the flight. Anchorage’s biggest competitors in
Anchorage, Alaska, experienced an influx of established itself as the 5th busiest cargo airport this space will be the large Middle Eastern hubs
passenger traffic from Europe, Asia and North in the world, and the lack of passenger air travel of Dubai, UAE and Doha, Qatar, which as of
America, as the airport is geographically situ- during the pandemic allowed it to briefly be- 2018 are the 6th and 11th busiest cargo airports
ated as an ideal gateway between Asia and the come the busiest airport in the world. As trade in the world. These airports anchor the route
West when overflying Russia is not an option. is expected to only increase between Asia and between Europe and Asia that stays south of
By the 1960s, seven international carriers used North America, cargo traffic through Anchor- Russia, and they are typically a shorter detour
Anchorage as a layover airport between Europe age is similarly expected to continue increasing than connections in Anchorage. Despite this,
and Asia and it was referred to by some as the rapidly. the enormous power of the already prominent
“crossroads of the world”. In 1982, a large new With the closure of Russian airspace, North American-Asian link in Anchorage pro-
international terminal was constructed to han- could Anchorage expand to include large scale pels it to be the 5th largest cargo airport in the
dle the increased demand. However, quicker service from Europe? The closure of Russian world, above both of its large Middle Eastern
than Anchorage had risen to prominence, the airspace has effectively created a barrier which competitors. The addition of a significant link
international terminal was effectively aban- European and Asian airlines now must bypass to Europe could allow Anchorage to become
doned as the range of airplanes was improved to exchange cargo and passengers between the “crossroads of the world” for trade.
12|May 2022 Vital Signs
for cargo planes, which would facilitate the
exchange of goods between aircraft. With the
closure of Russian airspace, it seems inevitable
that air travel in Anchorage will increase in
some way as a result, however, we have yet to
see if Anchorage will return to the status it once
held from passengers as the international travel
hub at the top of the world.
Works Cited
Airports Council International. “Preliminary
World Airport Traffic Rankings Released.” 13
Mar. 2019,
aci.aero/2019/03/13/prelimi-
nary-world-airport-traffic-rankings-released/.
Accessed 23 Apr.
2022.
Alaska Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities. dot.alaska.gov/anc/about/his-
tory.shtml.
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Collins, Abbey. “You’ve Probably Never Been
to the Anchorage Airport’s Sleepy Second
Terminal. The
State Wants to Change That.” Alaska
Public Media, 11 Oct. 2019, www.alaskapublic.
Anchorage’s strategic location, as seen on a globe GETTY IMAGES
org/2019/10/11/
International passenger travel lower fares than the nonstop competition. With youve-probably-never-been-to-the-
through Anchorage has been very limited since a large international terminal already in exis- anchorage-airports-sleepy-second-terminal-
the 1990s, however new airline business models tence, little new infrastructure would be needed the-state-wants-to-change-
and the closure of Russian airspace have created for an international hub to be established in that/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2022.
an opportunity for Anchorage to once again Anchorage, all that is needed is an airline to DeMarban, Alex. “Why Anchorage’s Interna-
become a major hub for travel between North commit to a plan. tional Airport Is Such a Big Cargo Destination
America, Europe and East Asia. Even since The potential for the re-emergence — and How
Anchorage’s decline, many airlines have created of supersonic airplanes in the future is another It Could Get Even Bigger.” Anchorage
major hub airports with the main purpose of interesting prospect for Anchorage. Several Daily News, 16 May 2021, www.adn.com/busi-
connecting passengers to other international supersonic jet proposals have been designed ness-economy/2021/
destinations. These include, but are not limited in recent years, but if these come to fruition, 05/16/
to Emirates of the UAE, Qatar Airways of they likely will be unable to fly above populated why-anchorages-international-air-
Qatar, Icelandair of Iceland and Copa Airlines areas of land, similarly to the Concorde, due port-is-such-a-big-cargo-destination-and-how-
of Panama. These airlines all almost exclusively to the sonic boom caused by supersonic flight. it-could-get-even-bigger
operate long haul routes bridging continents If these jets rise in prominence, Anchorage /. Accessed 23 Apr. 2022.
and take advantage of the most fuel-efficient offers an incredible location as it is surrounded O’Hare, Maureen. “This Is Now the World’s
flight distance of most jets being significant- by unpopulated wilderness and ocean, where Busiest Airport... on Certain Saturdays.” CNN,
ly shorter than range. By refuelling around supersonic jets would likely be permitted to www.cnn.com/
halfway through their journey, these flights fly. On the Europe to Asia route, the northern travel/article/anchorage-air-
can save a significant amount of fuel and as a route through the Arctic Ocean would benefit port-world-busiest/index.html. Accessed 23
result often offer far cheaper fares, drawing in significantly from its remoteness in comparison Apr. 2022.
customers. These connecting itineraries also to the southern route through the Middle East. “Russian Flights Bans Hit Airlines from 36
allow small cities to be efficiently connected to In recent years, political leaders Countries - Aviation Authority.” Reuters.
various cities on other continents, as a “hub and in Alaska have begun to attempt to restore Reuters,
spoke” approach easily connects small cities Anchorage’s international hub status. As of www.reuters.com/business/aero-
over a large distance. Economically, Anchorage late 2019, Government agencies such as the space-defense/
appears to be a prime candidate for an airline Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT) russia-imposes-sweeping-flight-bans-
to operate as a major international hub. Due are looking for a private company to renovate airlines-36-countries-2022-02-28/. Accessed 23
to its remote location near the North Pole, the international terminal, and political leaders Apr. 2022.
Anchorage has the unique distinction of being from Alaska and China have begun to work Steinegger, Rolf. Fuel Economy as Function
able to bridge three continents, and the airport toward creating a nonstop flight between the of Weight and Distance. Zurich University of
itself advertises that it is within 9.5 hours (5,000 two areas. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy Applied
miles) of 90% of the developed world. When believes that Anchorage becoming an interna- Sciences, digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/
once again considering the most effective flight tional hub would lead to an influx of tourism, bitstream/11475/1896/6/
distance of large jets, any airline operating stimulating the local economy. Officials also Steinegger_Fuel_Economy_as_a_
through Anchorage should be able to offer have planned $1 billion worth of improvements Function_of_Weight_and_Distance_v1-1.pdf.
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