Sean Corp, Content Strategist

While the world was shocked when Russian forces advanced past Ukraine’s border on Feb. 24, the armed conflict stretches back to 2014. With casualties on both sides mounting, and over one million Ukranians fleeing the country, a new online event from the University of Michigan aims to create a dialogue about the history, the consequences and the need for de-escalation. 

Join the Conversation | The Russian Invasion of Ukraine Teach-Out

The Russian Invasion of Ukraine Teach-Out, a free online event offered by U-M’s Center for Academic Innovation, invites people all around the world to learn from experts on the history of Ukraine-Russian tensions, the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the escalating conflict, how the world is responding in real-time, the potential global economic impacts of war and responding sanctions, how the conflict serves as an example of cyber and disinformation warfare, and and what people can do to support people in the growing humanitarian crisis.

There will also be a Live Town Hall featuring select contributors from the Teach-Out on March 23 from 1-2 p.m. hosted on Zoom. Registrants can attend the free virtual event and submit questions for the panelists about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its impacts.

Register Now | Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Teach-Out Town Hall

Contributors to the Teach-Out include experts in political science history, diplomatic relations, public policy and the humanitarian needs of the more than 1 million Ukranians who have fled the country in the early days of the conflict. 

Contributors to the Teach-Out include: 

Pauline Jones is a professor of political science in LSA and will discuss the historic origins of the crisis, territorial integrity and the potential impact sanctions could have on Russia. 

Javed Ali is an associate professor of practice at the Ford School of Public Policy. He has worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. Ali will discuss the role of NATO in the current conflict and the potential for Russian cyber attacks.

Eugene Bondarenko is a lecturer in LSA and a former journalist and translator who teaches Ukrainian and Russian languages at U-M. 

Melvyn Levitsky, professor of international policy and practice at Ford School and a former U.S. ambassador, will discuss what motivated Russia to invade and the history of tensions between the two countries. Livitsky spent more than 35 years as a diplomat and worked on U.S.-Soviet relations and at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. 

Greta Uehling, lecturer in LSA who studies the politics of migration and the challenges of social integration of migrants in both Ukraine and the United States. 

Matt Pauly is an associate professor of history at Michigan State University and faculty member of the Center for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies and Peace and Justice Studies who will discuss the cultural factors that are important to understand the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine and what steps could lead to peace.

Ben Nimmo, director of investigations at Graphika, an online social media monitoring company, will cover disinformation on social media and throughout the web.  

Two former Peace Corps volunteers in Ukraine, Jenna and Kris, will discuss their previous work in the country and how people can get involved in helping the Ukrainian people.