The Russo-Ukrainian War

How did we get here? Serhii Plokhy, a professor of Ukrainian history at Harvard University, looks for an answer to Putin's irrational war in this important and magisterial account. . . He is excellent on the dangers of perverse history * The Times and Sunday Times Best Books for Summer *
The foremost historian of Ukraine turns his attention to contemporary events. He argues that Russia's invasion is an act of old-fashioned imperialism. Plokhy uses his historical perspective to provide an original erudite and very readable account of the roots of the war and its course so far -- Gideon Rachman * Financial Times Best Summer Books *
Vladimir Putin's full invasion of Ukraine has made 2021 look like "vegetarian times", to borrow Anna Akhmatova's phrase. I'll be spending three weeks among the scrabbly pitch pines of Cape Cod, and of the stream of new books about the war itself, I plan to bring ... Serhii Plokhy's The Russo-Ukrainian War (Allen Lane), for its historical perspective on Ukraine and the Russian imperial project -- Rebecca Reich * TLS Summer Books *
The great chronicler of Ukraine breaks new ground in his rigorous and elegant analysis of Europe's biggest conflict since 1945. Wonderfully readable and deeply personal -- Luke Harding * Observer *
This magisterial book by a leading historian explains how long-held Russian imperial delusions lay behind the attack on Ukraine. It brilliantly outlines the dangers of perverse history -- David Patrikarakos * The Times *
Erudite, objective and immensely readable. A compelling rejoinder to those who, reductively, still blame Putin's war of aggression on western provocations, and an expression of faith in Ukrainian resilience -- Ben Hall * Financial Times *
Plokhy, a Harvard historian who has authored many respected books, is himself Ukrainian. . . this book represents an impassioned plea for his country * Sunday Times *
The world's foremost historian of Ukraine. . . the chronicler of a country on the front lines of a seismic European war * Financial Times *
Impressive and valuable... A clear, reliable and (in the circumstances) remarkably calm account of how we got here -- John Simpson * Guardian *
Plokhy has become an international celebrity. His books on Ukrainian history fly off the shelves as a domestic and international audience look to understand the history and culture of the country at the heart of the clash. His writings introduce readers to a history that is rarely taught in the West and explain the region's complex and difficult past * Daily Telegraph *
This is one of those wars rooted deep in the past, and it takes an outstanding historian to make sense of its antecedents without falling into partisan cheerleading or cartoonish oversimplification. Fortunately, Serhii Plokhy is such a historian. His evident sympathy for his homeland never overpowers his scholarly instincts -- Mark Galeotti * TLS *
A feat of scholarship under pressure -- Patrick Hudson * Tablet *
Plokhy is a fine, crisp writer and does brilliant research. . . . There is so much more here to inform this huge and important debate that I can only urge anybody who cares about the matter to buy and read the book -- Peter Hitchens * Mail on Sunday *
A masterpiece of historical research that will give Western readers a much better understanding of Russia's motivations and the conflict's early months * Independent.ie *
The horrific war in Ukraine rumbles on, and perhaps it's a strange time for a history of the conflict to come out, but Serhii Plokhy is the perfect historian to write it. Plokhy has lost relatives and friends in the conflict, and The Russo-Ukrainian War details with well-constructed arguments the causes and consequences of Putin's gamble. It may be current affairs, but it's difficult not to argue the invasion is historic -- Oliver Webb-Carter * Aspects of History *
An utterly compelling account, deeply personal, persuasively authoritative, surely the must-read book for this challenging moment -- Philippe Sands, author of East West Street
For those trying to understand the roots of the war in Ukraine, there is no better guide than Serhii Plokhy. It's impossible to make sense of the Russian invasion of 2022 without knowing something of the history - recent and less recent - and the struggle for Ukrainian national identity; this compelling and lucid book illuminates both -- Lindsey Hilsum, author of In Extremis
The essential book for the Russia-Ukraine war - superb, accessible and erudite - by the world's chief expert. The must-read work -- Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The World: A Family History
The thread of history is central to understanding Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Serhii Plokhy outlines this in fascinating detail and reminds us of the constant fragility of peace -- David Lammy