I don't think that Ukraine before Maidan "revolution" (actually, a coup modelled after Gene Sharp’s infamous textbooks) and Russian invasion could be identified as country clinging to Soviet values. On the contrary, rates of economic development, quality of life, freedom of the public opinion, competition of political forces et al. reached their historical maxima for independent Ukraine then, and now, as well as in the foreseeable future, will remain equivalents of Golden Age for the tortured country. They even managed to co-host European soccer championship in 2012, with great success.

All in all, Ukraine as a proof of concept could be, was, and will be viable only as a bridge between West and Russia, not as a fortress on Dnieper decorated with Balkenkreuz-styled banners. In a role of such fortress, it will inevitably crumble and disintegrate due to internal conflicts, mainly between aggressive integral Ukrainian far right nationalism and Russian-speaking populace, even in absence of Russian aggressors. The situation there across Ukraine is not much unlike Ulster Troubles for Great Britain, although Ukrainian language always enjoyed much greater levels of proficiency among citizens than Irish. However, Russian clearly dominated, despite lacking official status, and this fact is even recognized through special mention of Russian language in the Article 10 of the Ukrainian Constitution. (This article had been largely ignored by officials and “activists”.)

Pretty symbolic example from the latest news: on that same day when invasion started in 2022, yesteryear summer gains of “counter-offensive” across the first of Surovikin defense lines, already meagre, were obliterated in one strike.

So much hype for ruins of one hamlet in the middle of nowhere. And Boris Johnson is returning to his vomit in Kiev.