On January 30th, the Bologna Institute for Policy Research (BIPR) held its first presentation for the new year, introducing Professor Eugene (Evgeny) Finkel's most recent book, Intent to Destroy: Russia's Two-hundred-year Quest to Dominate Ukraine. The book explores the long history of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Despite the shock the brutal invasion of Ukraine elicited in the world, Russian aggression has been a dark feature of Ukrainian life for centuries. The book's title outlines Russia's ongoing intent to destroy not only a state, but a nation. However, Ukrainians have risen to safeguard their democracy and their nation, uniting internal divisions to preserve their independence. Alina Polyakova, the President and CEO of the Center for European Policy Analysis and fellow at SAIS' Kissinger Center for Global Affairs, opened the discussion about this "timely" and "important" book. She noted it is especially needed, as the world enters a period of geopolitical "instability and uncertainty," the Kremlin's war representing the "most profound security challenge" to the modern international order.

Finkel described his decision to write the book to the audience, citing a personal "defining moment" which acted as a prompt. Several years after having completed a degree at SAIS' D.C. campus, a former student approached Finke, for a letter of recommendation for a job at the International Criminal Court. After having written a "glowing" recommendation letter, in 2022 it emerged that the 'student' was in fact a Russian intelligence operator who had infiltrated SAIS. In combination with disgust and frustration at Russia's escalating violence in Ukraine, Finkel began to compose Intent to Destroy.

Finkel explained his choice for the term 'genocide' within the book. Some claim 'genocide' is an overused term today, and that violence against Ukrainians seems indiscriminate. Finkel explained this may have been true of the beginning of the war, but April in 2022 saw this change. Rhetorical shifts in Russia's justifications demonstrate this - moving from discussing Russian-speakers' 'liberation' from Ukrainian 'neo-nazis,' to citing a need to destroy Ukraine and its nationals. Finkel noted that the violence we are seeing used against civilians, including the castration with boxcutters and beheading of Ukrainians, is not reminiscent of any form of "liberation" authorities previously claimed guided the war.

Finkel also unconventionally asserted that this war was not based on territorial, nor security. issues Rather, it is a war of identity. Three components underpin Russia's claims over Ukraine. Firstly, Putin's leadership harks back to 'Kievan Rus' - a medieval East Slavic territory – a term used by Russian historians in the 19th century, which fostered a sense of entitlement among elites over what they perceive to be Russian land. Secondly, the notion of 'great Russians' (Russians) versus 'little Russians' (Ukrainians) has evolved into an extraterritorial social hierarchy within Russia. The notion of Russia's 'little brother' considering ascension to NATO without its senior's approval has prompted anger at Ukraine's supposed insubordination, driving conflict. Finally, the notion that Ukrainian is a "peasant dialect" forced upon citizens has positioned Russia to push their language in Ukraine for centuries.

Finkel posed that without a change in Russia's perceptions of ownership, no new borders or security guarantees can secure Ukraine in future. Such a change in perceptions must come from within Russia- not from external forces. While democratisation could be a catalyst for such a shift in Russia's ideologies, Finkel is sceptical any such change may occur anytime soon. He asserts that other policy choices – such as sanctions conditional upon the change of Russia's educational curricula, which preaches Ukraine does not exist – could support an internal change of perceptions. While many believe this to be 'Putin's war,' its broad support within Russia shows just how much popularly held beliefs must change if peace is to prevail in the future.

Future of World Order in an Era of Uncertainty Workshop - Supported by the Integration Fund Project

hosted by Professor Eugene Finkel


Written with "erudition and verve" (Timothy Snyder, New York Times-bestselling author of On Tyranny), this is the full story of how and why Russia has tried to violently subjugate Ukraine across the centuries, and how Ukrainians have resisted.

Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 shocked the world. And yet, to Ukrainians, this attack was painfully familiar, the latest episode in a centuries-long Russian campaign to divide and oppress Ukraine.

In Intent to Destroy, political scientist Eugene Finkel uncovers these deep roots of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Ukraine is a key borderland between Russia and the West, and, following the rise of Russian nationalism in the nineteenth century, dominating Ukraine became the cornerstone of Russian policy. Russia has long used genocidal tactics—killings, deportations, starvation, and cultural destruction—to successfully crush Ukrainian efforts to chart an independent path. As Finkel shows, today's violence is simply a more extreme version of the Kremlin's long-standing policy. But unlike in the past, the people of Ukraine—motivated by the rise of democracy in their nation—have overcome their deep internal divisions. For the first time, they have united in favor of independence from Russia.

Whatever the outcome of the present war, Ukraine's staunch resistance has permanently altered its relationship to Russia and the West. Intent to Destroy offers the vital context we need to truly understand Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II.

EUGENE FINKEL

Eugene Finkel is Kenneth H. Keller Professor of International Affairs, and Academic and Faculty Liaison at SAIS Europe.

Eugene (Evgeny) Finkel works at the intersection of political science and history. He was born in Ukraine and grew up in Israel. Finkel received a BA in Political Science and International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a PhD in Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on how institutions and individuals respond to extreme situations: mass violence, state collapse, and rapid change. Finkel's most recent book is Intent to Destroy: Russia's Two-Hundred-Year Quest to Dominate Ukraine (Basic Books, 2024). He is also the author of Ordinary Jews: Choice and Survival during the Holocaust (Princeton University Press, 2017), Reform and Rebellion in Weak States (Cambridge University Press, 2020, co-authored with Scott Gehlbach) and Bread and Autocracy: Food, Politics and Security in Putin's Russia (Oxford University Press, 2023, co-authored with Janetta Azarieva and Yitzhak M. Brudny). His articles have appeared in the American Political Science Review, Journal of Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Comparative Politics, East European Politics and Societies, Slavic Review, and several other journals and edited volumes. Finkel also published articles and op-eds in The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Foreign Affairs, The Spectator and other outlets.