What's the meaning of "by surviving"?

Ukraine has won the first phase of this one simply by surviving.

Question

What's the meaning of "by surviving"?

Ukraine has won the first phase of this one simply by surviving.

Answer

Hi GotoBrazil
It means that Ukraine has continued to exist. 'Simply' (only) means that is all it has done.
I hope this helps.
Victoria

Answer

The sentence means that the simple fact that Ukraine has survived counts as a victory in the first phase. 
What are you confused about?

Answer

Hi.
Survive means continue to live after a catastrophe. It's related to Italian or Latin root:  sopra+vivere which means to live beyond or live over sth...

I hope it helped.
Best regards,
Puyan