After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a considerable nuclear arsenal. However, due to financial constraints and geopolitical concerns, Ukraine made the decision to give up its nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 provided security assurances 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 challenges Ukraine faces in terms of security without the protection of nuclear deterrents. The vulnerability of Ukrainian security has come into sharp focus as a result of these developments.