The War’s Basics
Q: True or false: The 2022 invasion was the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.
True
Q: Ukraine was a cornerstone of which former superpower before its independence?
USSR or Soviet Union
Q: True or false: Ukraine was once home to much of the Soviet Union’s agricultural and defense production.
True
Q: Ukraine used to be part of this larger country that broke apart in 1991.
Soviet Union or USSR
Q: Ukraine’s location between Russia and Western Europe makes it important because it acts as a _______.
Buffer Zone
Q: In what year did Russia launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine?
2022
Q: Ukraine’s Westward leanings have been countered by Russia’s influence since independence in what year?
1991
Q: Russia has claimed a duty to protect this group living in Ukraine as part of its justification for intervention.
A: Ethnic Russians and Russian speakers
Q. What does USSR stand for?
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Q: Explain why Russia cares about what happens in nearby countries like Ukraine.
Security, glory of the country, geographic access, military positioning, and cultural history.
Q: The ongoing conflict in Ukraine began with Russia’s annexation of this region in 2014.
Crimea
Q: Which two major Western institutions has Ukraine sought closer ties with?
EU and NATO
Q: What is one major reason many Russian politicians saw Ukraine’s independence as a problem?
A: It threatened Russia’s standing as a great power
Q: Ukraine is not the only former Soviet country. This large country directly north of Ukraine is also closely tied to Russia today.
A. Belarus
Q: The war in Ukraine shows that borders are not always accepted, even when they are recognized by this global principle.
National Soveriegnty
Q: What two major entities have provided significant financial and military aid to Ukraine since 2022?
US and EU
Q: Which capital city of Ukraine has been repeatedly struck by missiles and drone attacks during the war?
Kyiv
Q: Approximately how many people have fled Ukraine as refugees since 2022?
A: About 6.9 million
Q: This Baltic country was once part of the Soviet Union but is now a member of NATO and the European Union.
A. Estonia
Q: One reason the war matters globally is because it affects food and energy prices beyond Ukraine. This shows the world is _______.
Interconnected and Interdependent
Q: More than how many civilian casualties have occurred due to fighting and air strikes in Ukraine since 2022?
53,000
Q: The conflict in eastern Ukraine initially started in 2014 in what general area?
Donbas Region
Q: In addition to refugees, how many people are internally displaced within Ukraine?
A: Approximately 3.7 million
Q: This mountainous country in the Caucasus region has had conflicts with Russia and fought a war in 2008.
A. Georgia
Q: The conflict has forced millions of people to leave their homes, creating this type of crisis.
Refugee Crisis