After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of a substantial nuclear arsenal. However, the financial constraints and geopolitical challenges prompted Ukraine to surrender its nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 assured security assurances to Ukraine, but these were shattered when Russia seized Crimea and backed separatist movements within Ukraine. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscores the security vulnerabilities faced by Ukraine in the absence of nuclear deterrence.