What Can Russia Achieve in Ukraine?

A Ukrainian service member walks along fighting positions on the contact line with Russian-backed separatist rebels near the town of Avdiivka in Donetsk Region, Ukraine, on Feb. 13, 2021. Oleksandr Klymenko/Reuters

Commentary

Another build up of Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders has caused its customary alarm, and more worryingly resulted in the deaths of two Ukrainian soldiers in isolated skirmishes. Yet what Russia hopes to achieve by its latest vulgar display of power remains a matter of speculation.