After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a considerable nuclear stockpile. However, financial constraints and geopolitical concerns led Ukraine to voluntarily disarm itself of these 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 within Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the precarious nature of Ukrainian security in the absence of nuclear deterrent capabilities. The vulnerability of Ukraine without nuclear weapons has become a pressing issue in the region.