PREVIEW ACTIVITY 1 Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.

Explained: Russia & Ukraine’s Turbulent History (C1)

Work with a partner, group, or your teacher. Do the activities below together.

PART 1 Discuss the questions below about war and the Russia / Ukraine conflict.

1 What is a war? What are some reasons countries go to war?

2 What kinds of global, economic, and political impacts can a war have?
3 What do you know about the history of the conflict between Russia
and Ukraine? Do you know how and why a war started between them?

PART 2 Test your knowledge of the vocabulary terms / phrases and try to define them.

1 What does it mean if a country imposes sanctions on another country?

2 What does it mean if a country holds a referendum?
3 What does it mean if a political leader is impeached by its government?
4 What does it mean if a person flees a country?
5 What does it mean if a country declares independence from another country?

PART 3 Match each noun below with its correct definition.

1 escalation a. the freedom of a country to control its own government

2 annexation b. an increase or growth in intensity of a conflict
3 sovereignty c. the addition of new territory to a country, state, etc.
4 ousting d. a protective barrier of separation
5 a buffer e. the act of forcing a person or government out of power

PART 4 Write the prefix you think fits each word defined below.

1 politics refers to political activity as influenced by the

physical features of a country or area of the world.

2 content is a lack of satisfaction with a situation, thing, or person.

3 An statement is a statement that describes something in a way

that makes it seem less important, serious, bad, etc. than it really is.
EXPLAINED: RUSSIA & UKRAINE’S Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.
TURBULENT HISTORY Explained: Russia & Ukraine’s Turbulent History (C1)

PREVIEW DISCUSSION: Read the discussion topic

below and discuss it with your partner or teacher.

What do you know about NATO? What role has it

played in the war between Russia and Ukraine?
What impact has it had?

VIEWING ACTIVITY

PART 1 Write short answers according to the information in the video.

0:51 1 How have some global leaders and officials responded to the conflict?

1:39 2 What role do geopolitics play in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine?

2:11 3 What does Vladimir Putin believe about Ukraine? What is his main fear?

2:43 4 How did Ukrainian citizens react to former President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision
not to sign a deal with Europe?

3:33 5 How did Vladimir Putin respond when he feared a successful revolution in Ukraine?

PART 2 The reporter discusses the role of the EU and NATO in the conflict. She says...

“
Western institutions like the EU and NATO have been keen to wean
former Soviet countries off Russian influence.”

What do you think the sentence above means? Try to explain it in your own words.
POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY 1 Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.
Explained: Russia & Ukraine’s Turbulent History (C1)

PART 1 Choose the correct past simple / past participle verbs that fit the text below.

held | fled | imposed | impeached | declared

1 Western countries have lots of economic sanctions on Russia

after it invaded Ukraine.

2 After Yanukovych refused to sign a deal that would make Ukraine politically
and economically closer with the EU, protests broke out. Yanukovych was then
by parliament and the country.

3 Soon after Putin annexed Crimea, separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk

referendums and independence from Ukraine.

PART 2 Write the correct parts of speech for the words that were used in the video below.

1 Political leaders from the West have said that President Putin has violated
Ukrainian (sovereign) with his decision to invade Ukraine, and
that he is responsible for the current (escalate).

2 Putin was worried that a successful revolution in Ukraine would

encourage NATO, and he responded with the (annex) of
Crimea, where over 60 percent of the population identify as Russian.

Rewrite each sentence below and replace the words in bold with the words that
PART 3
were used in the video.

1 Russia believed that the act of forcing Yanukovych out of power was illegal.

2 Ukraine has been a protective barrier of separation between Russia and the
EU because of where it sits geographically.

3 When Yanukovych chose to sign a deal with Russia instead of the EU,
thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets to show their lack of satisfaction.
 POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY 2 Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.
Explained: Russia & Ukraine’s Turbulent History (C1)

PART 1 Study the examples and usage of the past simple with the passive voice.

When discussing the political tensions in Ukraine in 2014, the reporter says...

“ Yanukovych fled the country after being impeached by parliament.”

We often use the past simple in combination with the passive voice. For the passive voice,
you can see how following certain prepositions and conjunctions (after, before, without,
despite, while, etc.), we use the present participle form of the auxiliary verb to be (being)
followed by the past participle of the main verb (impeached). See more examples below:

NEXT EXAMPLES The army won the battle despite being outnumbered by their enemy.
The country fought back as hard as it could before being overtaken.

Write the correct past simple form of the verbs below and the present participle of
PART 2
the auxiliary verb to be + the past participle of the main verb where necessary.

EX. The Gaddafi regime held (hold) power for 42 years in Libya before
being overthrown (overthrow) by rebel forces.

1 After (invade) by Russia, many residents in Kyiv

(seek) shelter and safety.

2
The USA (withdraw) American troops from Afghanistan in August of 2021
after (station) there for about 20 years.

3 Vladimir Putin (rise) to power despite (meet) with

lots of opposition.

4 After (occupy) by the Soviet Union for decades, Czechoslovakia

(declare) independence in what was called the Velvet Revolution.

5
Soldiers were heavily camouflaged and (creep) through the battlefield
without (see) by their enemy.

6 The naval ship (sink) after (hit) several times by

enemy torpedos.

7 Some buildings (shake) and some even (fall) while
(strike) by missiles.
POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY 3
Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.
Explained: Russia & Ukraine’s Turbulent History (C1)

SPEAKING TASK:

Your teacher will choose a few of the speaking topics below to discuss. Discuss the topics
with your teacher or partner. In your discussion, explain your ideas in detail.

1 What are some of the potential global, economic, and

political consequences of the military invasion by Russia
into Ukraine?

2 To what extent are other countries involved in the war

between Ukraine and Russia? What could the world or
other countries do to help Ukraine and its people?

3 How is the world reacting to the war between Russia and

Ukraine? What kinds of reactions have you seen, read, or
heard on the news or social media?

4 Do you know what kinds of sanctions specifically have

been imposed on Russia? How effective do you think
sanctions are in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?

5 What have you seen, read, or heard regarding Ukrainian

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s response to Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine?

LISTENING TASK:

Your teacher will read a short bio of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Listen and
then discuss these topics about him below:

1 His family background 3 His 2019 election victory

2 His studies and career 4 His personal character
QUIZ & REVIEW ACTIVITY Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.
Explained: Russia & Ukraine’s Turbulent History (C1)

Work with a partner. Complete the quiz and review activities below.

PART 1 Questions. Discuss the questions / topics below about the video.

1. How have some global leaders and officials responded to the conflict?
2. What role do geopolitics play in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine?
3. What does Vladimir Putin believe about Ukraine? What is his main fear?
4. How did citizens react to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s
decision not to sign a deal with Europe?
5. How did Vladimir Putin respond when he feared a successful revolution in
Ukraine?

PART 2 Vocabulary: Explain and/or write what each word or phrase means below.

1. escalation

2. sovereignty

PART 3 Vocabulary: Write the nouns that fit the sentences from the video below.

1 Ukraine has been a between Russia and the EU because of

where it sits geographically.

2 Russia believed that the of former Ukrainian president Viktor

Yanukovych was illegal.

3 When Yanukovych chose to sign a deal with Russia instead of the EU,
thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets to show their .

4 Putin was worried that a successful revolution in Ukraine would

encourage NATO, and responded with the of Crimea, where over
60 percent of the population identify as Russian.

Grammar: Write a past simple verb and then the present participle of the auxiliary
PART 4
verb to be + a past participle verb that fits the context of the sentences below.

1 Yanukovych the country after by

parliament.

2 The Gaddafi regime power for 42 years in Libya before

by rebel forces.