I N V A S I O N O F U K R A I N E

Immediately after the Revolution of Dignity, masked Russian Immediately after the Revolution of Dignity, masked Russian troops moved into Crimea and captured strategic sites, troops moved into Crimea and captured strategic sites, installing a pro-Russian government in Crimea that would then installing a pro-Russian government in Crimea that would then go on to sign a referendum that effectively returned Crimea to go on to sign a referendum that effectively returned Crimea to Russian rule. Also immediately after the Revolution of Dignity, Russian rule Also immediately after the Revolution of Dignity, protests by pro-Russian, anti-government separatist groups protests by pro-Russian, anti-government separatist groups would rise in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (administrative would rise in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (administrative divisions) of Ukraine collectively called the Donbas and divisions) of Ukraine collectively called the Donbas and were part of wider pro-Russian protests across Southern and were part of wider pro-Russian protests across Southern and Eastern Ukraine They would go on to declare the Donetsk and Eastern Ukraine. They would go on to declare the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, separating themselves from Luhansk People's Republics, separating themselves from Ukraine. Armed Russian-backed separatist groups seized Ukraine Armed Russian-backed separatist groups seized government buildings throughout the Donbas, leading to armed government buildings throughout Donbas, leading to conflict with Ukrainian government forces that would last up to conflict with Ukrainian government forces that would last up to the onset of the invasion in February 2022, with some cease the onset of the invasion in February 2022, with some cease fires along the way fires along way.

D D uring this time, the United States had also begun sending uring this time, the United States had also begun sending the Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) to assist with the Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) to assist the training of Ukrainian troops, which greatly concerned the training of Ukrainian troops, which greatly concerned Russia. Russia feared that this increased presence of western Russia Russia feared that this increased presence of western powers in Ukraine would lead to American forces being powers in Ukraine lead to American forces being stationed in Ukraine, partially explaining the spontaneity of stationed in Ukraine, partially explaining the spontaneity of their response Russia’s window of opportunity will continue their response Russia’s window of opportunity will continue to narrow as Porochenko signed the European Union- to narrow as Porochenko signed the European UnionUkraine Association Agreement during these conflicts, but Ukraine Association Agreement during these conflicts, but what had ultimately caused Russia to launch a full scale what had ultimately caused Russia to launch a full scale invasion would be the trajectory of Ukraine becoming a invasion would be the trajectory of Ukraine becoming a NATO member by 2022, following talks from 2008 up to NATO member by 2022, following talks from 2008 up to 2021 NATO had been growing steadily in power over the 2021. NATO had been growing steadily in over the last decade and had been continuously encroaching on last decade and had been continuously encroaching on Russia with Scandinavian countries tempting to join as well, Russia with Scandinavian countries tempting to join as well, leaving with but a few options The invasion, then, mostly leaving with but a few options. The invasion, then, mostly likely came about as a last ditch attempt to keep Eastern likely came about as a last ditch attempt to keep Eastern Europe out of NATO’s grasp. Europe out of NATO’s grasp

It is very hard to say how this conflict will ultimately shape the balance of power going forward as it is unlikely we will see its conclusion any time

It is very to say how this conflict will ultimately shape the balance of power going forward as it unlikely we will see its conclusion any time soon However, certain things are for sure: clearly, the invasion has had the opposite effect of that intended by Russia, with more states around Russia soon However, certain things are for sure: clearly, the invasion has had the opposite effect of that intended by Russia, with more states around Russia now further along the path of joining NATO than they had been before the invasion, along with the war coming to be very profitable for the US, their now further along the path of joining NATO than they had been before the invasion, along with the war coming to be very profitable for the US, their rival’s economy utterly destroyed without them having to do much at all The Russian market crashing, though, has had the undesirable effect of an rival’s economy utterly destroyed without them having to do much at all. The Russian market crashing, though, had the undesirable effect of an energy crisis within Europe, as Russia was the main exporter of gas This is especially important and detrimental during winter time which limits energy crisis within Europe, as Russia was the main exporter of gas. This is especially important and detrimental during winter time which limits public support of the war within Europe. The most significant impact of the war so far, though, might just be its impact on Putin’s popularity, with public support of the war within Europe The most significant impact of the war so far, though, might just be its impact on Putin’s popularity, with protests happening all throughout Russia ever since the war started, along with rapidly mounting internal tensions from disgruntled conscripts having protests happening all throughout Russia ever since the war started, along with rapidly mounting internal tensions from disgruntled conscripts having to fight a losing war they do not support, for a government they hate What all this will accumulate into in the long run will be hard to say, for as to fight a losing war they do not support, for a government they hate. What all this will accumulate into in the long run will be hard to for as Churchill has once put it, “Russia is a riddle, wrapped in mystery, inside of an enigma.” But what we do know is that what we are witnessing will Churchill has once put it, “Russia is a riddle, wrapped in mystery, inside of an enigma ” But what we do know is that what we are witnessing will surely be a pivotal turning point in history that will change the balance of the world forever surely be a pivotal turning point in history that will change the balance of the world forever