Expert Insights on Ukraine & War in Eastern Europe

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has seized the attention of the world, as an independent nation fights for its freedom from a country with a history of oppressing Ukraine.

As the crisis in Eastern Europe continues to escalate, ֱ Boulder researchers offer insight into everything from how the conflict is being received by Ukrainians and Russians to the growing refugee crisis in Europe to how economic sanctions will affect the United States.

News & Resources

The campus community is invited to attend a virtual address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 16. The event, discussing how America's leading research universities and Ukrainian officials can work together to help rebuild and transform Ukraine's decimated higher education sector, will be hosted by the AAU, of which ֱ Boulder is a member.

Though nuclear war isn’t likely, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could have far-reaching consequences, says ֱ Boulder researcher Brian Toon.

As the crisis in Ukraine continues, TikTok has become a primary outlet for spreading information, causing some to refer to the conflict as TikTok's first war. Casey Fiesler, an assistant professor of information science, discusses the role TikTok is playing in the Ukraine crisis.

ֱ Boulder experts in Russia and Ukraine share insights into what has led to the crisis, how citizens of both countries are reacting, what effect economic sanctions could have on both Russia and the West and how Americans can help from afar.

This year's Leo Hill Leadership speaker, a retired four-star general and former special ops commander, discussed leadership in times of uncertainty and shared his perspective on the Russian invasion of Ukraine in front of an audience of more than 1,000 students and community members.

This week, tensions in Eastern Europe escalated as Russia launched a wide-ranging military attack against Ukraine. “What about the people who will have to carry the burden of a war?” asks ֱ Boulder's John O'Loughlin who has spent 30 years studying the political attitudes of everyday Ukrainians.

Our Experts

Faculty experts from ֱ Boulder are available to discuss various topics related to the war in Ukraine, including the history of conflict, political diplomacy and economic impacts of the war on the United States. To arrange media interviews, please contactcunews@colorado.edu.Find more media resources.

David Bearce

Professor of Political Science
Expertise: Economic and financial impacts

Sanjai Bhagat

Professor of Finance
Expertise: Economic and financial impacts

Iain Boyd

Director of theCenter for National Security Initiatives
Expertise: National security

Laura DeLuca

Anthropologist and Assistant Teaching Professor
Expertise: Refugees

Erin Hutchinson

Assistant Professor of History
Expertise:Ukrainian conflict,history and diplomacy

John O’Loughlin

Professor of Geography
Expertise:Ukrainian conflict, history and diplomacy

Sarah Wilson Sokhey

Associate Professor of Political Science
Expertise:Ukrainian conflict,history and diplomacy

Brian Toon

Research Scientistat the
Expertise: National security

Thomas Zeiler

Professor of History, Director of the International Affairs Program
Expertise:Ukrainian conflict,history and diplomacy

News Coverage

Sanjai Bahgat

Laura DeLuca

Brian Toon

Tom Zeiler

John O'Loughlin