I’ve never been to the Unkraine, but I did know Ukrainian immigrants, back in the seventies, who had Ukrainian flags and “Free Ukraine” posters in their dorms.
So I don’t consider it impossible.
Nothing creates as sense of patriotism than a clearly evil oppressor. And Ukraine has had plenty of that.
Both Russia and Ukraine are inefficient messes, but Ukraine is much better and is improving.
Ukrainians have a lot more freedom and have to create things to earn income while Russia is ruled by the iron fist of the Kremlin and pumps their income out of the ground.
Ukrainians are future looking. They want to be like Poland and that’s not a bad level. People take care of and improve their immediate surroundings. One thing that angers Russian invaders much is how nice houses and gardens Ukrainians have.
Russians are caught in grievances and want to reimagine their past. They don’t care about improving their present. They dwell on what they think are injustices of the past. They don’t think they are at fault for their sad circumstances nor responsible for improving it. They believe they are owed something by the world and the world will pay.
Russia is a country where bullshit talks. Putin gives speeches about traditional values and morality, but it is just talk. Even after him having having ruled for 22 years the reality on the ground is different.
Here are the abortion rates per 1000.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/abortion-rates-by-country
Russia 53.7 (the highest in the world)
Ukraine 27.5 (half of Russia’s)
USA 20.8
Poland nearly 0
Russia invaded Ukraine largely because they seek to be more like Poland - free, optimistic and improving and Russians can’t stomach that!