Amid the growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, ballistic missiles, warnings of nuclear war, and the largest conventional military invention since World War II, many fear the escalation to evolve into the most cataclysmic war ever fought.
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As the tension ramps up and Russia intensifies its bombardments on the major Ukrainian cities, the alarm of proxy wars and wider armed conflicts is ringing high. With every passing day, the battle is pulling in more countries.
So, can the Ukraine crisis be called world war III? Or are we heading towards it?
The Upsurging Inadvertent Escalation in Ukraine
The war is currently being fought in southern, eastern, and northern Ukraine, including the city of Kherson, which was recently claimed by Russian forces. While this is happening, a large convoy of Russian military vehicles has appeared to stall 19 miles outside Kyiv.
But, as long as the Ukraine crisis drags on, there is a greater chance of an “inadvertent escalation,” where something goes wrong on the fringes that make the war worse. The bigger and longer the conflict lingers, the higher the chances of such something like this happening.
In the previous Soviet Union and the U.S. cold war, the threats of nuclear war hit close several times. Mostly because of human errors and individual mistakes.
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According to Glennys Young, an expert of Russian studies at the University of Washington; An unfortunate and tragic case would be if Russian forces inadvertently launched a missile that landed in one of the NATO member states, such as Poland.
Under such circumstances, a world war might get inevitable.
The Fear of Nuclear War
A fire broke out at Europe’s biggest power plant overnight on Friday due to Russian shelling, raising fears of a nuclear disaster greater than Chernobyl.
According to the country’s nuclear inspectorate, Russian forces are now occupying the Zaporizhzhia plant in southeast Ukraine. Furthermore, the inspectorate reported that the nuclear facilities are intact and undamaged. Researchers called the cease “astonishing” and unheard of.
The incident occurred as Russian forces made gains in the south of Ukraine, seizing one key port city and encircling another.
“It is clear that world war 3 can only be nuclear”
Sergei Lavroc, Foreign Minister Russia
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with over 1 million displaced people. The Ukrainian and Russian governments tentatively agreed on Thursday to set up humanitarian corridors to allow for the safe passage of civilians.
In the wake of the refugee crisis, the Biden government announced Ukrainians already living in the United States could apply for temporary immigration protection.
Can the Ukraine-Russia Crisis be called World War?
A world war is a war that involves the majority of powers, if not the whole. However, the army clashes are limited between Ukraine and Russia in the current conflict and not on the frontline.
But, looking at the history, world war starts small and stretches long, pulling in more countries alongside. Therefore, outbreaks don’t always have to be massive for a fight to pan over the globe. Even a war between two countries can evolve into a world war.
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World Wars have clear alliances, with the most prominent powers divided. Similarly, at a glance, the physical fighting can seem to be happing only between Ukraine and Russia, but as it zoomed out, the picture of a divided world becomes more vivid.
Each country has chosen a side. The United Nations general assembly’s voting on a resolution is proof. But, though many countries abstain from choosing sides, for now, will countries be forced to join the war if their interest and people’s safety continue bleeding?
NATO is already prepared for an escalation. It has beefed up deployment in the eastern European countries near the Russian border. On the contrary, France maintains it is not at war with Russia just yet, but the consults are spiraling up.
“Worst is yet to come.”
Emmanuel Macron, President France
But, what will the worst look like? Will it be a large–scale European conflict? Wider armed–conflict? Or the long-feared nuclear war?
Ukraine Crisis: What Happens Next?
Our world is already fighting multiple wars. There are ongoing conflicts between Iran and Israel, China and Taiwan, the Us and Iran, India and China, North Korea and the U.S., and many others. War is also fought in Syria, Yemen, UAE, and more.
Ruling out that countries will cease a distracted world to pursue their geopolitical dream is hard. So is the fact that the war at the sidelines of Ukraine will drag more countries.
With over 13,000 nuclear weapons possessed by nine countries, the entire world can be wiped out. Russia has already put its atomic deterrence force at alert.
But we cannot afford to go to war. However, one cannot be sure of what lies ahead. Marking the Ukraine crisis as the prelude to world war III and the end of the post-cold war era is still too soon.
One thing is for sure no matter which side the pendulum swings, we are entering a new era of geopolitics.
