The extraordinary intensity of emotions caused by the Russian–Ukrainian war has raised numerous urgent questions for public thought, demanding deeper understanding and evaluation of the events unfolding before our eyes. This book may be seen as a search for answers to the challenges generated by the military confrontation between Ukraine and Russia, as well as an attempt to comprehend the specific nature of the Ukrainian–Russian borderland society. Situated at the intersection of civilizational boundaries, this borderland follows its own logic of development, burdened by a strong potential for conflict.

The author argues that in the near future it is unlikely that the conflict dynamics between Ukraine and Russia will weaken or that mutually acceptable solutions will be found. Particular attention is given to the “conflict of identities” and the difficulty of neutralizing the crisis. At the same time, the book outlines the possibility of revealing a unifying potential based not on past traumas, but on an awareness of the seriousness of identity-related challenges and the collective responsibility of society.

The publication is intended for a wide readership interested in issues of identity in both historical and contemporary contexts, as well as in the search for pathways toward national unity within Ukrainian society.

Second edition.

Length: 672 pages. Hardcover.