Russia's assault on Ukraine gets deadlier
As the war drags on Russia reverts to deadly and terrorist tactics aimed at civilians
Russia launched an unprovoked brutal assault against Ukraine, and the world is finally paying attention to the tactics Russia has long used in war. Their military strategy was to take several Ukrainian cities in a week, which failed due to the resilience and determination of Ukrainians to defend their land, sovereignty, and freedom. The first few days, the disorganized Russian forces were met with pushback by Ukrainians and many logistical errors. As Russia’s frustration grows from achieving no significant gains, their strategy is shifting, and they have now resorted to using terrorist tactics against civilians. Over the past few weeks, we have seen the intentional targeting of women, children, elderly as Russia decimates cities and towns with their air assault. In addition, there has been an increase in attacks on journalists documenting the war crimes committed by Russia. A Sky News team came under heavy shelling by Russian forces despite identifying themselves as press. American journalist Brent Renaud was shot dead by Russian forces, a Ukrainian cameraman, and two Fox News journalists killed. The images and videos coming out of Ukraine are appalling and heartbreaking, but Russia’s tactics are not new. This is how Russia fights wars.
Russia has encircled several cities, including Mariupol, where a humanitarian crisis unfolds. Hundreds of thousands of residents in Mariupol are trapped in their homes with no food, medicine, electricity, or heat during brutal temperatures. Russian forces have kidnapped local officials and activists, and there are reports of Russian forces looting homes and raping women. Russia agreed to provide a humanitarian corridor to allow people to flee only to attack the civilians fleeing. The deputy mayor confirmed that Russian forces took control of a hospital in Mariupol holding everyone hostage. This happened days after Russia bombed a maternity and children’s hospital last week with a pregnant woman and her baby dying days later.
A cornered Putin and his military generals have shifted their strategy to strategically targeting civilians, schools, hospitals, and homes. The Russian military is now decimating cities and committing mass murder to try to break the will and determination of Ukrainians, but this will not work. On the contrary, each death makes Ukrainians even more determined to fight because they understand what is at stake.
As reprehensible as these war crimes are, they are the norm for how Russia fights wars. When Russia’s military strategies face challenges, they resort to using terrorism and committing war crimes. The difference this time is that we are watching it play out on media and social media. Putin came into power after a series of apartment-building bombings that killed over 300 Russians, with evidence showing that Putin and FSB (Russia’s domestic intelligence agency) were the culprits. The 1999 apartment building bombings blamed Chechens, which resulted in Russia starting the second Chechen war. Russian forces then attacked Grozny, completely destroying the city. Russia used similar tactics during the 2008 Georgia invasion and the 2014 war against Ukraine, which has continued over the past eight years. But the worst atrocities that Russia committed were in Syria when they helped Assad bombard cities, commit mass murder of civilians, and attack civilians with chemical weapons. In addition, Russian mercenaries committed mass human rights crimes in the Central Africa Republic and Libya. Russia has committed so many war crimes and uses the same cruel playbook leaving a trail of destruction and devastation wherever they are involved.
Russia’s brutal assault will only get more deadly in the coming weeks as they encounter mass losses and get more desperate. For several weeks, Russia’s state media has been laying the groundwork for false flag operations using chemical and nuclear weapons with the intent of blaming the Ukrainian military. Putin and his regime have gotten to this point because they have never been held accountable. We must stop Putin in Ukraine and provide all the logistical support and weapons Ukrainians need because if Ukraine falls, that will only be the beginning. Russian propagandists have discussed how Russia will attack NATO countries, and we should believe them because a lot of their propaganda has come to fruition.