The Year Putin’s Imperial Dream Became a Nightmare of Destruction

A Ukrainian serviceman stands on a destroyed Russian tank in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Trostyanets after Ukraine stated that it recaptured the town; one of the first to fall under Moscow's control, on March 29, 2022. Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

We know why Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine. Once upon a time (as recently as late February 2022), Vlad dreamed a splendid dream of imperial Russian glory restored.