ABSTRACT
The outbreak of an aggressive war by Russia in February 2022 has significantly altered the importance of Ukraine, not just for Europe but for the global community. Despite facing a much stronger adversary, Ukraine has demonstrated exceptional military capabilities, surpassing the expectations of political figures and experts. Scholars and politicians frequently contend that territorial diversity and cleavages have impeded state and nation building in Ukraine. The territorial diversity also prevented Ukrainian politicians from building an authoritarian ‘vertical of power,’ similar to that adopted in Russia and Kazakhstan. The Ukrainian groups, or networks, emerged around the significant post-war reconstruction projects that Moscow implemented in Soviet Ukraine. These projects were designed to rebuild and modernize the country's infrastructure and economy after the devastation of World War II.
