Thousands of Sierra Leoneans at Risk as Russia Invades Ukraine – Is This World War III?

The event that many fear could lead to World War III is currently happening in Ukraine and world leaders are already making to stop it from further escalation.

In the early hours of Thursday, February 24, 2022, Russian President, Vladimir Putin in a televised address announced a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Shortly after his address, major Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Dnipro were attacked. ‘Hundreds’ of Ukrainian troops were killed as bombs rained from the sky, while Ukrainian troops reportedly downed five Russian planes in retaliation.

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also announced the country’s readiness to hand over weapons to citizens who are willing to defend themselves. But the world is not going to sit back and watch the crisis dovetail into a full blown war that’ll have to involve the rest of the world.

It has been reported that, at last, the price of crude oil (Brent) has hit the roof at $100 per barrel in the international market, due mainly to the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

According to Ukraine’s ministry of education and science, Sierra Leone is among the list of countries whose students are studying in Ukraine.

Students from Sierra Leone and more than 150 other countries flock to Ukraine for bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Medicine is a particular subject of interest for Sierra Leoneans with the Africa-Ukraine academic relationship dating back to soviet times. The crisis would put foreign students’ education in Ukraine in doubt.

Many world leaders have condemned Ukraine’s invasion by the Russian military forces with the President of the United States, Joe Biden saying the attack was unjustified. Reacting to the ongoing onslaught in Ukraine, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson said the full invasion of the country is a catastrophe for Europe.

The Nigerian government has issued an advisory to its citizens in Ukraine, saying they are “responsible for their personal security and safety.” But as at press time, there has been no statement from the Government of Sierra Leone.