Ukraine War Drives the Unraveling of Russia’s Soviet Legacy—A Strategic Defeat for Moscow

Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine has done more than ignite conflict—it has fast-tracked what experts call the "second Soviet disintegration." Former Soviet republics once shackled politically and economically to Moscow are breaking those ties, pursuing sovereignty and new partnerships beyond Russia’s grasp. For America, this weakening of Kremlin influence is a strategic opening that underscores the failure of Russian expansionism. Is Russia Losing Its Grip on Its Own Backyard? The recent electoral landslide victory for pro-European forces in Moldova starkly illustrates this trend. Only Belarus clings loyally to Moscow, hosting tactical nuclear weapons—a glaring exception rather than the rule. Meanwhile,...