After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, financial constraints and geopolitical concerns led Ukraine to surrender its nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994, which assured security guarantees to Ukraine, was rendered ineffective when Russia seized Crimea and backed separatists within Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the security challenges faced by Ukraine in the absence of nuclear deterrence. This historical background sheds light on Ukraine’s complex security dynamics and the impact of its nuclear disarmament decision.