Russo-Ukrainian War Oral History Project

Launched in 2026, the Hoover Institution’s Russo-Ukrainian War Oral History Project aims to deepen understanding of this major conflict and generate a set of historical records that will serve as a lasting resource for scholars, policymakers, and the public. 

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has posed the greatest challenge to the international order since the end of the Cold War. Even as the conflict’s outcome remains uncertain, its consequences for European and global security have already been profound. Evaluating the successes and failures of the U.S. and European policy response, and drawing lessons for current and future crises, will require careful and thorough analysis of the most consequential strategic choices made by all sides. 

Led by two senior researchers with expertise on Russia/Ukraine and international politics, and overseen by an advisory board of distinguished scholars and practitioners, the project will collect and preserve the perspectives of key leaders whose decisions shaped the war, including heads of government, ministers of foreign affairs and defense, and leaders of the armed forces, intelligence agencies, and other institutions.

The project prioritizes quality over quantity. In-depth interviews are conducted in accordance with professional oral history protocols and standards. Audio (in select cases, video) recordings support the production of detailed and accurate transcripts.

Building on the Hoover Institution’s history as a major center for the study of war and peace, all recordings and interview transcripts will be deposited at the Hoover Institution Library & Archives, where they will be made accessible to current and future researchers. As the project progresses, a series of policy briefings, workshops, and conferences will ensure that key findings reach a broader audience.