Woodard and Murrett Provide Refugee, Military Perspective on the Russia-Ukraine War in WAER Article

February 25, 2026

WAER

Lauren Woodard

Robert B. Murrett

Anthropology Department

Public Administration & International Affairs Department

Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy & Law

Center for European Studies

Conflict

Government

International Affairs

Russia

Ukraine

WAER

Lauren Woodard

Robert B. Murrett

On the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the conflict remains at a military stalemate while support for Ukrainian refugees has significantly diminished in both the U.S. and Europe.

Lauren Woodard, assistant professor of anthropology, says the Trump Administration has discontinued the Biden-era Uniting for Ukraine program, and support for refugees in Europe is more fragmented.

“This EU level response is being replaced by individual country responses, which is withdrawing support,” she says. “In Poland, where many people live, the Polish government this month announced that they would not be extending that temporary protection status to Ukrainians.”

Woodard says many countries are modeling their response on the U.S. refusal to accept refugees.

Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs, says, “The Ukrainian army is the most effective army in Europe. There's no question. They're just tenacious. They have absorbed advanced technologies in ways that are truly remarkable, not just unmanned aircraft and drones, but a lot of other battlefield techniques.”

Read more in the WAER article, “Ukraine's military remains 'tenacious' while refugees have far fewer escape options.”