It’s been three weeks since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

As Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky continues to plead for Western aid, the situation in his country is deteriorating as the Russian army bombards cities, hospitals, evacuation routes, and other civilian targets. 

How did we get here? And which historical parallels can shed light on what’s happening now in Ukraine?

On this special episode, historian John Connelly, professor of history at UC Berkeley and an expert on east central Europe, shares his insights.

For further reading: 

• “What Makes Ukraine Different,” John Connelly
• “Putin’s Apocalyptic Goals,” Piotr H. Kosicki
• “The Orthodox Response to Putin’s Invasion,” George E. Demacopoulos