Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may be largely motivated by the drive to expand corrupt practices, writes Columbia University adjunct professor Matthew Murray. To understand the situation, we need to look back to Ukraine’s 2013-14 Euromaidan movement. The demonstrations saw Ukrainians protest the government of former President Viktor Yanukovych and his refusal to sign legislation that would lead to EU membership.
When President Putin began Russia’s expanded military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the imprisoned Russian anticorruption activist and political opposition leader Alexey Navalny was on trial once again over fabricated charges of embezzlement. Though Mr. Navalny faces another 15 years in a penal colony, he seized the opportunity during his February 24 hearing to publicly state his opposition to Russia’s war on Ukraine. “This war between Russia and Ukraine was unleashed to cover up the theft from Russian citizens and divert their attention from problems that exist inside the country,” he said.
Mr. Navalny’s statement reflects a deep understanding of the causes of war. Throughout history rulers have started wars to divert and distract attention of their citizens from growing domestic problems and restiveness. And this pattern fits the Russian situation well. In recent years,…
