Ukraine War Mini-Unit

The lessons in this mini-unit will take students through the War in Ukraine. Lessons will start with the background to the war, and will continue through the Russian invasion, international support, and ongoing issues.

  • 7lessons
  • 2coming soon
  • 3reading levels
  • 6–12grades
Concepts across the unit
SovereigntyPowerSecurityNationalismInterdependenceEqualityIdentityLegitimacy
Start with Lesson 1Try Lesson 3 free
  1. Lesson 1 MembersAug 2026

    Background to the Ukraine War

    How did the largest war in Europe since 1945 begin? Students trace Ukraine's path from independence to invasion, touching on the Budapest Memorandum, NATO expansion, Euromaidan, Crimea, and the Minsk…

    Peace & ConflictNationalismSovereignty
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  2. Lesson 2 MembersAug 2026

    Russian Invasion of Ukraine

    In February 2022, Russia said it had launched a limited operation while analysts saw a bid to seize Kyiv within days. Students weigh Russia's stated aims against its inferred ones…

    Peace & ConflictPowerSecurity
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  3. Lesson 3Free lessonSep 2026

    Ukraine Resists Russian Invasion

    Experts expected Ukraine and its capital, Kyiv, to fall within days. It didn't. This lesson examines the different explanations for Ukraine's defense and asks how much of Ukraine's defence of…

    Peace & ConflictInterdependenceSovereignty
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  4. Lesson 4 MembersSep 2026

    Ukrainian Refugee Crisis

    Over five million refugees. Another three million displaced inside Ukraine. But the numbers hide something: displacement has not meant one thing. Kyiv's population came back. Kharkiv's has left and returned…

    Rights & JusticeEqualityIdentity
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  5. Lesson 5 MembersJul 2026

    Ukraine’s Military Shakeup

    In one week in July 2026, Ukraine replaced its defence minister, its commander-in-chief and its chief of the General Staff. Ukrainian protesters opposed one of those decisions and openly demanded…

    Peace & ConflictLegitimacyPowerSecurity
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  6. Lesson 6 MembersOct 2026

    Ukraine Data Centre Strikes

    Ukraine's strikes on Russian data centres in October 2026 disrupted Yandex services and coincided with a sharp drop in bot traffic from Yandex's network. In this current events lesson for…

    Media & TechnologyPowerSovereignty
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  7. Lesson 7 MembersOct 2026

    How Have Nuclear Weapons Shaped the War in Ukraine?

    No nuclear weapon has been fired in the war in Ukraine, yet nuclear weapons have shaped it throughout. Students explore deterrence, Russian and US nuclear policy, the Budapest Memorandum, and…

    Peace & ConflictSecuritySovereignty
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  8. Lesson 8 · Coming soon

    International Aid to Ukraine

    International aid to Ukraine has included almost everything except soldiers: weapons, training, intelligence, money, humanitarian aid and sanctions on Russia. In this current events…

  9. Lesson 9 · Coming soon

    The Zelenskyy–Trump relationship

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