Russian Nationalism and the Russian-Ukrainian War

Russian Nationalism and the Russian-Ukrainian War, the first edition of which was published before Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, was the first book to integrate the roots of Russian military aggression against Ukraine and genocidal policies towards Ukraine with a study of Russian imperial nationalism. The text of this second, revised, updated and extended edition, provides a historical and contemporary understanding behind President Vladimir Putin Russia’s obsession with Ukraine and the roots of Russia’s invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022.

The book investigates the inability of Russian imperial nationalism, from the time of the Tsarist Empire, throughout the era of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and since the dissolution of the latter in 1991, to accept Ukraine as an independent country and Ukrainians as a people distinct and separate from Russians. The book highlights the sources of this lack of acceptance in a mythical pan-Russian nation composed of Great, Little, and White Russians (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians respectively). The book analyses why these Russian imperial nationalist myths led to the Kremlin’s mistaken belief in a quick three-day victory of its so-called special military operation, which rather led to years of full-scale war.

Taras Kuzio is a Professor in the Department of Political Science, National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, Ukraine. He is the author and editor of 25 books, including Russia’s War on Ukraine. The Four Roots of Russia’s Invasion (2026), Russia and Modern Fascism. New Perspectives on the Kremlin’s War Against Ukraine (2025), Russian Disinformation and Western Scholarship (2023), Crisis in Russian Studies? Nationalism (Imperialism), Racism and War (2020), The Sources of Russia’s Great Power Politics: Ukraine and the Challenge to the European Order (2018), Putin’s War Against Ukraine: Revolution, Nationalism, and Crime (2017). He is the author of 16 think-tank monographs, including Crimea 2014-2024: Where Russia's War Started and Where Ukraine Will Win (2024), and The Crimea: Europe’s Next Flashpoint? (2010). He has authored 50 book chapters and over 123 scholarly articles on Ukrainian and Russian politics, identity and nationalism.