After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical concerns, Ukraine made the decision to surrender its nuclear weapons. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum provided assurances of security to Ukraine, but these guarantees were called into question when Russia seized Crimea and backed separatist movements in Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the importance of nuclear deterrence for Ukrainian security. The vulnerability of Ukraine without a nuclear arsenal has been starkly exposed by these events.