On February 21, 2022, Russian president Vladimir Putin unleashed a tirade of falsehoods about Ukrainian history, culture, and sovereignty in a speech broadcast across Russia. Three days later, he launched an unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, whose people have made clear time and again that they are committed to democratic values and intend to chart their own course in the world, beyond the shadow of the Kremlin. Many hoped that the Ukrainians' heroic defense against authoritarian aggression would galvanize democracy's supporters throughout Europe and Eurasia.

https://freedomhouse.org/article/europe-and-eurasia-democracy-autocracy-gap-widening

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