Russian-Ukrainian War — War for Life (2014—2022): Periodization

Abstract

The article periodizes and describes the Russian-Ukrainian war of 2014–2022 in the author’s concept. Seven periods of this great war of Ukrainians for their own statehood, for the right for existence of the Ukrainian nation, for life are marked and covered. Within each of the periods, not only significant military events are mentioned but also political (diplomatic) aspects, which also influenced the state of military-political events in general and the Russian-Ukrainian confrontation and the war in particular. For example, it is noted that the occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 is nothing but an act of military aggression against the state of Ukraine, a historical and legal falsification, and an international crime of the Russian Federation.It is emphasized that this war is both all-encompassing and destructive, civilizational and existential in nature. Its goal on the part of the Russian Federation is the destruction of the state of Ukraine and the entire Ukrainian people, and therefore it can and should be defined as a total war. However, it is not national liberation, as Ukraine was not a colony, occupied or enslaved by Russia, and therefore there was nothing to get rid of. Instead, the Ukrainian people rose up for a just patriotic war for their statehood and their right to life.It is emphasized that the Russian-Ukrainian war, behind its scenes, goes beyond the bilateral conflict and shows clear signs of a general crisis of the world security system, which will lead to a chain of global changes of planetary significance.