Why did Russia invade Ukraine?
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Why did Russia invade Ukraine?
Memorial tanks at the Ukrainian Motherland Monument in Kyiv.
Kathryn David, Vanderbilt University
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.
Why did Russia invade Ukraine? – Artie W., age 9, Astoria, New York
Ukraine and Russia are two countries that border each other in Eastern Europe. On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia sent its army into Ukraine and began trying to take over the country by force.
This invasion surprised many people, as it was the first major war in Europe for decades. But Russia and Ukraine have had a difficult relationship for centuries. To understand what’s happening now you have to dig into 1,300 years of history.
Both countries trace their beginnings to the same medieval kingdom, called Kyivan Rus. It was founded in the 800s by a group of Vikings, the Varangians, ...
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