Abstract
Russia's strategy for Ukraine is closely linked to its endeavours to retain power at national and international level. From the point of view of Russia's rulers, Ukraine must be deprived of its statehood and cultural identity in order to secure Russia's status as a great power. To this end, Russia has mainly utilised an indirect strategy in which military power, including nuclear weapons, plays a central role. Following the failure of a forced change of government in Kyiv in February 2022, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine bears the hallmarks of a genocidal war of annihilation. In view of Russian military failures, Russia is relying on its nuclear threat potential and indirect means of pressure to achieve its war aims.