how did it come to this?

3.02 - Ukraine pt2. “Is there anything more frightening than people?" –Svetlana Alexievich

Listen on

Episode notes

This week, part 2 of the complex issue that is Ukraine. From Empire to hetmanate to democracy, last week saw a land given and taken by the empires around it. From the end of World War 2 Ukraine has been constantly torn between communism, its people, its land and those who would control it. What was Stalin’s legacy? Why did Russia give up Crimea? What happened behind the Iron Curtain? What's the deal with Krushchev? How does all of this lead to Putin? And ultimately how did it come to this?