In President Biden’s words, Russia’s violent invasion of Ukraine is “a flagrant violation of international law.” This war has forced more than 4.5 million Ukrainians to flee their country, leaving the world in shock, sadness, and economic ruin. We spoke to a UW history professor, a Sammamish resident, and a Ukrainian refugee to learn about how we got to where we are today and how our community has been impacted by this war.