Russian Vs Ukraine

When Moscow launched its invasion on February 24, 2022, few doubted that it intended to seize Kyiv and occupy at least part of the country. But the scope of its assault, which Putin termed a “special military operation,” implied that it hoped to replace the pro-Western president Volodymyr Zelenskyy with someone who would support Moscow’s security needs and agree to territorial concessions.

The Kremlin’s pre-war preparations centered on the assumption that a significant portion of Ukrainian society would embrace reintegration into Russia’s sphere of influence because of their shared cultural, linguistic, and religious ties. This calculation was not entirely implausible, especially given the intensity of Russian propaganda campaigns that promoted the idea of an imperial Russian nation defined by the “Greater” (Russian), “Little” (Ukrainian), and “White” (Belarusian) peoples.

But Ukraine’s resistance has proved far more durable than Moscow anticipated. A resurgent Ukrainian army has defied massive Russian artillery and rocket fire, defeated numerous pro-Russian offensives, and recovered lost territory. Hospitals, schools, and other infrastructure have been destroyed or pillaged, and the war has spawned widespread evidence of atrocities that qualify as war crimes, often accompanied by genocidal talk on Russian state TV.

Moreover, as a result of the war, Ukrainians have developed profound enmity for Russia. This enmity will take years, perhaps decades, to overcome, but even with Putin’s sudden departure or some form of political transformation in Moscow, Ukraine will retain its sovereignty and its status as a European democracy defending itself against the threats of a rogue neighbour.