The Fight for the Past: Contested Heritage and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Many in the West do not understand why Putin decided to attack Ukraine. Russian propagandists have thrown up a smokescreen, placing blame on expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe, slandering Ukrainian government as ‘Nazi’ regime, suggesting that ethnic Russians needed protection, or even insinuating conspiracy by destroy state and culture. This article shows there are deep underlying reasons for invasion which linked how Ukraine its history perceived nationalists imperialists. examines some historical justifications put forward his views Ukraine, Russia, their history. The gives an overview key moments discusses long shadow events 20th century, from initial attempts at building Putin’s rejection ideas state- nationhood. also analyses impact conflict has had monuments heritage sites, including deliberate destruction capture removal artefacts relics.