Intent to Destroy

Dominating Ukraine has been the cornerstone of Russian policy for centuries - now, we are witnessing a genocide. The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought large-scale warfare to Europe, reshaped relations between key global players, and redefined existing alliances and international organizations, such as NATO and the European Union. It has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, revived the threat of a nuclear war between Russia and the West and might unleash a global famine. Political scientist and historian of genocide Eugene Finkel zooms in on the intersection of one of the most important geopolitical events in recent decades and the most odious type of violence. Placing the war amid a long history of Russian political violence, he reveals how genocide and crimes against humanity have played a major role in Ukrainian history - both concepts were coined by scholars from Lviv, a city in western Ukraine and Finkel's hometown. Focusing on violence against civilians on the ground as a lens to understand the war, he argues that the violence we are witnessing is a direct continuation of the Kremlin's playbook when dealing with domestic and foreign opposition. He explores the challenges of historical memory, accountability for crimes committed by Russia, and what will be required for reconciliation between future generations of Ukrainians and Russians. Told with the astonishing power that comes from Finkel's personal connection to this living history, and the authority of a lifetime's research, Intent to Destroy is an ambitious account of the war in Ukraine, and how this violence will continue to shape global politics for decades to come.

Dominating Ukraine has been the cornerstone of Russian policy for centuries - now, we are witnessing a genocide. The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought large-scale warfare to Europe, reshaped relations between key global players, and redefined existing alliances and international organizations, such as NATO and the European Union. It has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, revived the threat of a nuclear war between Russia and the West and might unleash a global famine. Political scientist and historian of genocide Eugene Finkel zooms in on the intersection of one of the most important geopolitical events in recent decades and the most odious type of violence. Placing the war amid a long history of Russian political violence, he reveals how genocide and crimes against humanity have played a major role in Ukrainian history - both concepts were coined by scholars from Lviv, a city in western Ukraine and Finkel's hometown. Focusing on violence against civilians on the ground as a lens to understand the war, he argues that the violence we are witnessing is a direct continuation of the Kremlin's playbook when dealing with domestic and foreign opposition. He explores the challenges of historical memory, accountability for crimes committed by Russia, and what will be required for reconciliation between future generations of Ukrainians and Russians. Told with the astonishing power that comes from Finkel's personal connection to this living history, and the authority of a lifetime's research, Intent to Destroy is an ambitious account of the war in Ukraine, and how this violence will continue to shape global politics for decades to come.

'A masterpiece' Peter Pomerantsev 'Powerful' Serhii Plokhy 'Fascinating' Daily Telegraph A history of Russian violence waged against Ukraine across the centuries. Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 shocked the world. And yet this attack was in fact the latest episode in a centuries-long Russian campaign. In Intent to Destroy , leading scholar of genocide and Eastern Europe Eugene Finkel uncovers the deep roots of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Ever since the rise of Russian nationalism in the nineteenth century, the domination of this key borderland has become a cornerstone of Russian and Soviet policy. Using genocidal tactics - killings, deportations, starvation and cultural destruction - against ethnic Ukrainians and minorities including Tatars, Jews and Poles, Russia's long-standing policy has aimed to obliterate Ukrainian identity. This eradication has consistently been a part of the Kremlin playbook and leads inexorably to the violence we see today. Told with the astonishing power of Finkel's connection to this living history, and the authority of two decades of research, Intent to Destroy casts today's war it its broadest historical context, illuminating as never before Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II.