RUSSIA UKRAINE, PUTIN ZELENSKYY: Your Essential Uncensored Guide to the Russia Ukraine history and war.

By Valentine Green

In this comprehensive all-in-one guide, including references from 27 experts, academics and professionals; You will gain an in-depth understanding of the Russia Ukraine history and war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Independent Publishing Network
• Release date: Apr 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781800688667

Book preview

Introduction

Since the first three months of 2022, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has captured the attention of the whole world. Ever since rumors began that the Russian military was preparing to troop en masse to the border of Ukraine and invade the neighboring country, news outlets have featured the ongoing military campaign and covered the crisis round-the-clock. The reports have been consumed by viewers from all corners of the globe, an obvious sudden interest in one of the most significant conflicts of recent times.

The global community was just emerging from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and everywhere countries were either slowly reopening their economies and removing various restrictions, or grappling with the fresh surge of recent variants of the virus while attempting to return to some semblance of normal. The world was hoping for a respite from the harrowing and exhausting two years brought about by the pandemic, but as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated, it became apparent that this would be the next big hurdle for the global community to deal with.

The effects of the unfolding crisis in this part of the world soon reverberated around the globe. Oil prices surged, financial markets were shaken, large multinational corporations pulled out of Russia, and many nations soon announced a barrage of economic sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his family as well as numerous other top officials and oligarchs from his country. The humanitarian crisis also brought the escalating problem right to the doorsteps of neighboring countries as millions of refugees from Ukraine streamed across the border, trying to escape the ongoing bombardment and danger at home.

Soon, talks of an even bigger global war were floating around in 24-hour cable news channels, podcasts, online communities, and on social media. As the United Nations and NATO began to call for Russia to cease its invasion of Ukraine, all eyes were on China, a known ally of Russia. As lines of demarcation began to be clearer and much of the global community resonated in condemnation of Russia’s actions, China adopted a more neutral position. For now, it appears that China is sticking to this stance, but many pundits have cautioned that if China gets involved in the conflict in one way or another, the situation could deteriorate very quickly.

Europe, for the most part, has banded together and provided logistical support and other forms of aid to Ukraine, although these countries have steered clear of directly sending troops to help Ukrainian forces fighting off Russian invaders. Other Western countries such as the United States and Canada have also sent significant material and financial aid to Ukraine. And in another interesting turn of events, the images of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy leading Ukrainian fighters and putting his life at risk by being in the front lines have captivated people around the world, even encouraging a number of volunteer fighters from different countries to travel to Ukraine and offer to fight alongside Ukrainian forces and civilians who are already staving off the Russian troops.

It would be interesting to note that, up until the events of the past few months, many people around the world did not know much about the country of Ukraine, beyond the usual historical backgrounds and associations with Russia and the post-Soviet era. Apart from the common depictions of Ukraine and its citizens in popular culture, particularly in films, television series, and books, many people know very little about Ukrainians or their nation. But because of the focus of mass media over the last few months, and as global audiences are exposed to the gallant stand that Ukrainians have put up defending their country from invaders, the world now has a better understanding of this country and its citizens.

What has been happening in Ukraine in the first part of 2022 is the culmination of a long-standing conflict between the two countries that dates back to 2014, and in the next few chapters, you will get a historical perspective of how Russia and Ukraine reached this boiling point. What was the reason behind the disagreements between the two countries, and what escalated the issues and caused the Russo-Ukrainian War that all of us are now monitoring?

In order to really understand the root of these events, one has to understand the historical and cultural background of this region of the world. Indeed, Russia and Ukraine have a shared history that goes back many decades, and the similarities and comparisons between their cultures cannot be ignored or simply dismissed. What becomes apparent as one analyzes the histories of these two nations, however, is how the fight for democracy and the yearning for freedom and justice became the difference for Ukraine, and these are the very ideals that are now being threatened due to the relentless military offensive being undertaken by Russia.

Truly, what is happening at the moment in Ukraine is a crisis that will have lasting and far-reaching effects throughout the modern world. No matter how near or far you may be from the center of the ongoing war, you should be knowledgeable of the events and have an understanding that goes beyond just what is being shared on social media or the news outlets. It should be the comprehension that as citizens of the world, we are all connected to each other in more ways than we are often aware, and we should be prepared to stand up for what we believe in when challenged by forces that seek to undermine the human need for liberty, truth, and happiness.

Chapter One:  The Historical Relationship Between Russia and Ukraine

Russia and Ukraine are embroiled in an ongoing conflict that has dominated the world stage in 2022, and when one takes a closer look at the extensive and intertwined history of these two neighbors, a better understanding of the issues between the two states can be achieved. Their shared history dates back almost one thousand years, when Kyiv, which is now the capital of Ukraine, was the epicenter of the very first Slavic state, Kyivan Rus. This state was the birthplace of modern-day Russia and Ukraine.

Their common heritage can also be seen in the religious parallels that have always been similar between the two states. In A.D. 988, the grand prince of Kyiv and pagan prince of Novgorod, Vladimir I, converted to the Orthodox Christian religion. The prince was baptized into the Christian faith in the city of Chersonesus in Crimea. This conversion unified the populations, although conflicts did crop up occasionally throughout the centuries.

Ukraine, in particular, is no stranger to turbulent times caused by various neighboring states encroaching into its territory or realigning its borders. In the 13th century, Mongol invaders from the east conquered Kyivan Rus and ruled over this region for some time. Then in the 16th century, invaders from Poland and Lithuania also came in from the west and staked their own claim to part of Ukrainian territory. When war broke out between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Russian Tsardom in the 17th century, many areas situated east of the Dnieper River in Ukraine fell under the control of imperial Russia and became known as the Left Bank.'' Meanwhile, those on the Right Bank" or west of the Dnieper River remained under Polish control until 1793, when this region was annexed by the Russian Empire.

The 20th century brought much transformation to this part of the world, starting with the communist revolution of 1917. The Russian Revolution became known as one of the most significant and politically important events of the century