After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine was left with a substantial 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 assured security assurances to Ukraine, but these guarantees were called into question when Russia seized Crimea and backed separatists in Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the security challenges that Ukraine faces without the protection of nuclear deterrence. The vulnerabilities of Ukrainian security have been brought to the forefront in the wake of these events.