“The Thin Red Line” carries significant weight today, especially for Ukraine. The imagery of soldiers standing firm against an overwhelming force is deeply resonant in the context of Ukraine’s ongoing struggle. In the 21st century, Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion mirrors the essence of that historical moment—where a small group faces what seems like an insurmountable adversary, holding on not just for military survival, but for the very preservation of identity and sovereignty.
Much like the Sutherland Highlanders at Balaclava, the Ukrainian people have shown tremendous resilience. It’s not only about military resistance but also about cultural survival and the defense of democratic values. The struggle is daily, enduring, and carries both profound loss and inspiring bravery, making “The Thin Red Line” both a symbol of defiance and a tragic reality for those involved.
For centuries, Ukraine has been at the crossroads of empires that sought to subjugate its people and erase their identity. From the Mongol invasions to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, from Russian imperial occupation to Soviet totalitarianism, each era has forced Ukrainians to make an essential choice: resist or perish. Resistance has been the defining theme of Ukrainian survival, and the thin red line of defiance has repeatedly emerged throughout history.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Zaporozhian Cossacks embodied Ukrainian defiance, fighting against Polish and Russian domination. Leaders like Bohdan Khmelnytsky and Ivan Mazepa championed autonomy, with their struggles marking the beginning of Ukraine’s long and relentless fight for self-determination. The Holodomor of 1932-33, Stalin’s genocidal famine, was another brutal attempt to destroy Ukrainian national identity, yet Ukraine endured, preserving its culture and resilience.
During and after World War II, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) fought both Nazi and Soviet forces, forming a final thin red line of resistance that endured well into the 1950s. More recently, the Euromaidan Revolution of 2013-14 reaffirmed Ukraine’s refusal to bow to external control, as millions of Ukrainians took to the streets, rejecting Russian influence and reaffirming their commitment to a European future.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is the latest chapter in this centuries-long struggle. What began as an international battle for sovereignty has become a fight for democracy itself. Today, Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines are the thin red line holding back authoritarian aggression.
The Battle of Kyiv (2022) was expected to end in a Russian victory within days, yet Ukrainian defenders held firm, forcing a Russian retreat and proving that Moscow’s military might was not invincible. The Siege of Mariupol, particularly the heroic stand at Azovstal, epitomized modern resistance, as Ukrainian defenders held out for months against relentless bombardment, sacrificing themselves to buy time for Ukraine’s military to regroup.
When faced with relentless missile strikes, energy blackouts, and war crimes, Ukrainian civilians have formed an unbreakable homefront. Volunteerism and mutual aid networks have been instrumental in sustaining the war effort—delivering medical supplies, drones, and humanitarian aid. Despite immense suffering, Ukraine’s industries, infrastructure, and government remain operational, demonstrating a resilience that Russia underestimated.
Even in Russian-occupied territories, Ukrainians refuse to surrender. Sabotage operations, intelligence gathering, and underground resistance efforts continue to challenge Russian control. Religious and cultural institutions remain central to this resistance, as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and other faith communities help preserve national identity against forced Russification.
Ukraine’s fight is not just about national survival—it is a pivotal battle for global security. A Ukrainian defeat would embolden Russia and set a dangerous precedent for territorial aggression worldwide. Moldova, Georgia, and even NATO allies like Poland and the Baltic states could become Moscow’s next targets. The outcome of this war will determine whether authoritarian regimes are allowed to expand unchecked or whether international law and sovereignty will prevail.
The West’s support for Ukraine has been critical, but hesitation and delays in providing military and economic aid have prolonged the war and weakened Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. The refusal to grant Ukraine NATO membership in 2008, based on the flawed assumption that it would provoke Russia, now stands as a historic failure. That appeasement signaled to Moscow that aggression would go unanswered, emboldening Putin to seize Crimea in 2014 and launch a full-scale invasion in 2022.
Compounding this crisis are shifting political dynamics between the United States, Europe, and Russia under the current Trump administration. Recent statements by president trump in addition to comments by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference suggest that the U.S. may be reorienting its strategic priorities toward Russia and distancing itself from Europe. If this realignment occurs, it would fracture NATO cohesion, embolden further Russian aggression, and leave Europe vulnerable. For Ukraine, such a shift would be catastrophic.
Ukraine’s NATO membership is essential to securing its future. The reason the U.S. continues to deny Ukraine full membership is a calculated one: Washington fears that Russia will violate any peace agreement, triggering Article 5 and forcing direct U.S. military involvement. However, leaving Ukraine in a security limbo does not deter Russian aggression; it only encourages further attacks. Just as NATO membership deterred Soviet aggression in Western Europe during the Cold War, Ukraine must be granted the same protections to ensure lasting peace.
The world must not stand idly by as Ukraine fights for its survival. Every act of support—whether through weapons, economic assistance, or diplomatic pressure—reinforces Ukraine’s defense and helps prevent the collapse of global democracy. The thin red line is not just a battlefront on the ground; it is a moral and political frontier that must be upheld by the world. History will judge the free world by the strength of its actions today. Ukraine has chosen to resist
and will prevail. The real question is whether the world will rise to defend freedom or falter in the face of tyranny.
Bohdan Cherniawski CD1, BScN, RN
September 16, 2025