After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a considerable nuclear arsenal. However, financial constraints and geopolitical concerns led Ukraine to give up its nuclear weapons. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum offered security assurances to Ukraine, but these were called into question when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist movements within Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the challenges Ukraine faces in ensuring its security without the nuclear deterrence it once possessed. This situation serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and vulnerabilities of Ukrainian security in the absence of nuclear capabilities.