Intent to Destroy

The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought large-scale warfare to Europe, reshaped relations between key global players, and redefined existing alliances and international organisations, 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.