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Introduction to “The Conflict in Ukraine: 
Historical and Contemporary 
Perspectives” 
 
Howard Louthan 
University of Minnesota 
 
 
The situation in Ukraine has riveted the world’s attention since the invasion of Russia 
in February 2022. What many people thought would be a quick victory by Putin’s 
troops has turned into a surprising series of setbacks for the Russians as a resilient 
Ukrainian military first ably defended Kyiv and then have continued to claw back 
territory in the east and south of the country.  
 
The Central Europe Yearbook has devoted a portion of this issue to the conflict and its 
impact both in Ukraine and beyond. Anne Stackpole (Leiden University), who is 
based in Warsaw, has conducted an interview with a group of Ukrainian refugees who 
recount their harrowing escape from the Russians in the days immediately following 
the invasion. Kristalena Herman (University of Cambridge), a Peace Corps volunteer 
in Ukraine from 2019 to 2020, considers the experience of men and women who 
continue to live in Ukraine, some very close to the frontlines. She features interviews 
with a CEO of a medical facility in Mykolayiv, a city pummeled by Russian artillery, 
and a director of a non-profit organization offering desperately needed assistance in 
this conflict. Mikołaj Dueholm (University of Minnesota) explores the situation in 
Poland with a thoughtful interview with Justyna Janiszewska, the Executive Director 
of the Fulbright Commission in Poland. Here they discuss the scope and activities of 
the Polish Fulbright Program, bi-lateral relations with the US, and also the 
repercussions and echoes of the war both on the program and the country. Finally, 
Rusty Allison (Auburn University) talks with Dr. John Fahey on his forthcoming book, 
Przemyśl, Poland: A Multiethnic City Before and After a Fortress, 1867-1939. In this 
interview, Dr. Fahey provides insights into how the history of Przemyśl can help us 
understand the present conflict in Ukraine.