Current Affairs 11th May 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Kharkiv

Context: Russian forces launched an armoured ground attack near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

Strategic Location: Kharkiv lies in the northeast of Ukraine and is the largest city in the historic Slobozhanshchyna region. Its geographical position makes it a crucial battleground.

More in News

• Russian Offensive: Russia’s move to attack Kharkiv is part of a broader strategy. By opening a new front here, Moscow aims to divert and pin down Ukraine’s already overstretched and outnumbered defenders
• It also seeks to draw troops away from the eastern front, where Russia is focusing its main offensive efforts.

About the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

• Russian troops invaded Ukraine from the north, east and south of the country.
• It targeted the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv in the northeast, Donbas in the east, and the southeast of the country, along a swathe of territory reaching across to Crimea.
• The 2014 Crisis: Conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russia-supported rebels in Crimea, DPR and LPR, claimed nearly 14,000 lives.
• Russia then annexed Crimea and a series of sanctions followed, handing blows to the Russian economy.
• Objective of Invasion: An operation to demilitarise Ukraine.
• To prevent the US-led NATO from gaining a foothold in Ukraine.

Examples, Case Studies and Data

• GS4 Ethics (Role of Civil Servants, Attitude, Dedication to Public Service): IFS officer Vikas Nayak discovered a barren land in the ravines of Firozabad district, Uttar Pradesh. Once a breeding ground for thieves and dacoits, he transformed it into a green oasis known as the Rapdi Ecotourism Centre. This eco-friendly haven features wooden huts, geo treks, a butterfly park, and more. The project aimed not only to conserve biodiversity but also to raise awareness about conscious tourism.

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