Românii din Bucovina în războiul ruso-ucrainean

Abstract

The war in Ukraine marked significant damage which was inflicted on infrastructure, civilian areas and cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv and others. This article examines how the involvement of Russia’s military forces, under the pretext of “liberating” Ukrainians from nationalist influences, is framed similarly to past historical events, such as the Soviet occupation of Northern Bukovina in 1940, where Russia claimed to “liberate” locals from Romanian rule. The article also examines far-reaching consequences, including massive displacement, with Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries like Romania and Poland, as well as the impact of the war on minority communities, specifically the Romanian minority in Ukraine. The article’s final points draw on the spurred debates on the role of historical memory, the complexities of ethnic identities and the challenges of post-conflict recovery.