Lessons of soviet-finnish wars for Ukraine

Abstract

The article aims to compare the course of Soviet-Finnish wars and modern Russian-Ukrainian conflict, set the main factors and determine perspectives of its resolving. Taking into account the historical distance the course of Soviet-Finnish wars of 1939-1940 and 1941-1944 is firstly revealed. Henceforth analysis of Soviet-Finnish and Russian-Ukrainian conflict is conducted, which led to the conclusion about heredity of character of the Russian Federation policy and its adaptation of Soviet instruments and methods of expansion to modern reality. Herewith the main factors of international and political life are defined, which determined success of Kremlin aggression against Helsinki and affect the course of Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Finally, the authors single out main integral and international (strategic and tactical) factors of decision-making for realization of the Finnish scenario in Ukraine and perspectives of resolving Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Keywords: Soviet-Finnish war, Russian-Ukrainian conflict, annexation of Crimea, the USSR and Russian Federation external policy, Kremlin aggression, hybrid war, temporally occupied territories