From the inconceivable levels of civilian deaths and destruction, to daily reports of wartime atrocities, to the use of propaganda in justifying the war domestically, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine bears uncanny similarities to the Chechen wars. But while international criticism of Russia's conduct in Chechnya did not evolve into widespread sanctions, the current war is nearly universally condemned and has had practical repercussions for Russia. In this event, we will discuss how Russia’s wars in Chechnya parallel Putin’s war in Ukraine and consider what lessons the Chechen wars have for Russia and the world today. 

Send questions to our speakers by email at kennan@wilsoncenter.org, tweet @KennanInstitute, or write on our Facebook page.