Books at the Institute: Battleground Ukraine: From Independence to the War with Russia by Adrian Karatnycky

Books at the Institute is pleased to present an evening with Adrian Karatnycky, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and author of Battleground Ukraine: From Independence to the War with Russia

Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 6:30 PM

Ukrainian Institute of America
2 East 79th Street (at Fifth Avenue)
New York, NY 10075

Mr. Karatnycky will be joined in conversation with Jay Nordlinger, Senior Editor at National Review

Book signing and light reception to follow.

$15 general admission / UIA members free

The first major English-language history of Ukraine from its emergence after the demise of the Soviet Union through the current Russian invasion.

In 1991, after seventy years of imperial Soviet rule, Ukraine became an independent country. Since 2022, it has been fighting an existential war against an unprovoked, brutal, and ongoing invasion by Russia. At the center of its resistance is the resilience of a united people.

Ukraine expert Adrian Karatnycky provides an eyewitness account of the history of the modern Ukrainian state and of the nation through the tenures of the six presidents who have led Ukraine since the collapse of the USSR, including Volodymyr Zelensky. Karatnycky shows how—despite the influence of corrupt oligarchs, pressures from Russia, and the legacies of Soviet rule—an inclusive and united Ukrainian nation has emerged that inspires the world as it defends the principle that states and peoples have the right to their national sovereignty.

Praise for Battleground Ukraine:

“An important addition to the literature … Karatnycky combines eyewitness accounts with historical analysis, adding depth and insight to the bulletins of war.”—Kirkus Reviews

“An indispensable history of contemporary Ukraine by a writer who is himself one of the builders of contemporary Ukraine. The point of view is intimate. The insights are astute. The sympathy extends to all who labored, fought, and sacrificed for a liberal, democratic, and European Ukraine.”—David Frum, author of Trumpocalypse

“Adrian Karatnycky portrays a heroic people defending their identity, culture, and freedom against formidable headwinds, grasping the essence of a nation that has become a humanitarian and geopolitical flashpoint.”—Liev Schreiber, actor, director, and writer, and cofounder of BlueCheck Ukraine

“Ukraine’s battle is our battle, so understanding its post-independence history is vital if the battle is to be won. Adrian Karatnycky has done an outstanding job of telling that story, warts and all.”—Bill Emmott, former editor-in-chief, The Economist, and chairman, International Institute for Strategic Studies

“Adrian Karatnycky has a knowledge of Ukraine that comes not only with reading history but also with making it. A participant in many key events in Ukraine’s recent past, in this important book he provides unique insights into the rise of independent Ukraine and explains why the country and its people keep fighting when others gave up.”—Serhii Plokhy, author of The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History

“Adrian Karatnycky’s new book, Battleground Ukraine, is essential reading. Now, more than ever, the history of Ukraine and the dazzling resilience of its people should be shared with the world and his work does just this. Through his in-depth knowledge and expertise, Karatnycky shows what’s at stake for the world in the war against Ukraine.”—Bernard-Henri Lévy, Philosopher, Author, and Filmmaker

Adrian Karatnycky is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. At the Atlantic Council, as President of Freedom House,  and as an official at the AFL-CIO he has observed, analyzed, and assisted in the evolution of Ukraine’s democracy over the last three and a half decades.

Jay Nordlinger is a senior editor of National Review, and a book fellow of the National Review Institute. He is also a music critic for The New Criterion and The Conservative.

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To have a copy of the book signed, Battleground Ukraine will be available for purchase ($35.00) at the Ukrainian Institute of America the evening of the event.

By purchasing a book from the UIA, you are supporting its continued cultural and educational programming and the further enjoyment of its unique events by our friends and community along New York’s Museum Mile.

For further information: Please contact the Ukrainian Institute of America at (212) 288-8660 or mail@ukrainianinstitute.org.

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Title: Battleground Ukraine: From Independence to the War with Russia
Author: Adrian Karatnycky
Publisher: Yale University Press (June 4, 2024)
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN-10: 0300269463
ISBN-13: 978-0300269468
Item Weight: 2.15 pounds
Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.1 x 9.37 inches