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Also, how Ukraine, out of all countries?

• DashRattlesnake 10y ago
  > Also, how Ukraine, out of all countries? I think the Soviet Union physically based a good chunk of its military industry in Ukraine, which the country then inherited when it became independent. So when we talk about Ukraine in this context, we're talking about a former superpower.
• PeterisP 10y ago
  Ukraine has traditionally been the location of most Soviet block aerospace engineering and manufacturing, and much of it is still being manufactured there. For example, several current models of Russian helicopters and military ships rely on engines made only in Ukraine, and the recent conflict and disruption of the military industrial complex (which used to and still is rather connected between Ukraine and Russia) has caused delays in producing these craft since you can't really replicate it easily, it takes a lot of time, skill and effort. Also, lots of military rocket manufacture (from shoulder-operated to very large SAM) was and is located in Ukraine. Together with their rather large nuclear industry (currently civilian, but they used to manufacture warheads as well, plus the missile and guidance systems) they probably could be a first-rate nuclear power with MIRV ICBMs if there was a political will to make it so again.