In this compelling episode of NucleCast, Olena Kryzhanivska, a Ukrainian policy analyst and senior editor at the NATO Association of Canada explores the ongoing war in Ukraine, offering a deeply informed and personal perspective on the conflict’s origins, evolution, and global implications.

Olena traces the roots of the war back through centuries of Russian imperialism, Soviet oppression, and the 2014 annexation of Crimea. She explains how the full-scale invasion in 2022 was not a sudden act but a continuation of long-standing Russian ambitions. The conversation delves into the psychological and societal divides between Ukrainians and Russians, the resilience of Ukrainian civil society, and the strategic miscalculations made by the Kremlin.

The discussion also covers:

• The role of Western support, particularly from the U.S., and the impact of political shifts on military aid.
• The human toll of the war, including the trauma endured by civilians and the challenges of military recruitment.
• Russia’s nuclear rhetoric and its implications for NATO and global security.
• Olena’s three heartfelt wishes for Ukraine’s future: sustained U.S. support, greater global recognition of the Russian threat, and the restoration of Ukraine’s full sovereignty.

This episode offers a sobering yet hopeful look at Ukraine’s struggle for freedom and the broader stakes for the international community.

Olena Kryzhanivska is a Ukrainian policy analyst and senior editor at the NATO Association of Canada. She has provided expert analysis for the Norwegian Embassy in Turkey and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Currently, she authors the weekly newsletters Ukraine’s Arms Monitor, focusing on weapons transfers, military cooperation, defense production, and drone warfare in the context of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

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