This is just one of a few instances where the Russian military is attacking civilian targets. It's classic bullying. You got beat up so pick on a smaller kid to make yourself feel better about it. The Russian army hasn't managed to kill 300 Ukranian troops without seeing 1000 of their own die first. https://abcnews.go.com/Internationa...d-forcibly-removing-civilians-russia-83663314
Well it isn't like the US military has never killed a civilian. Perhaps one can explain what is the difference between this and our signature air strikes by drones.
It's a shitty thing, but usually drone strikes have a military target. The Russian military is specifically targeting Ukraine civilians because targeting Ukraine soldiers is a good way to die. Civilian to non-civilian deaths in drone strikes in Pakistan happen at a 1:3 ratio. The ratio in Russia is the reverse. They've killed more civilians than soldiers.
I have no idea why they are targeting things like theaters or if these are more like SCUD attacks---it'll come down wherever it comes down-- but I still see no difference between targeting a gathering of civilians at which a terrorist is present and targeting a theater at which an enemy combatant is present. Likewise Israel has been targeting civilian buildings for years. It is really easier just to accept that this happens than try to rationalize one side doing it while condemning another side for doing it.
Could be. Could just be propaganda. Not only has Ukraine opted for urban warfare as opposed to trying to hold a defensive line away from civilian-occupied areas (a strategically intelligent move if victory is more important that the lives of noncombatants) guaranteeing civilian casualties, but they count many armed civilians among their defenders, both 'authorized' and not. This makes every window, rooftop, apartment building, hospital and school a potential threat for the invading forces. In short, this is textbook asymetric warfare. This tactic leaves Russia with only two options- withdraw or kill a lot of civilians. Ukraine had no chance against Russia in a straight-up military vs military fight lined up on some battlefield somewhere. They had to choose between the 'Stalingrad' defense or a quick defeat. They chose to sacrifice some of their people for a chance at victory just as much as Russia has chosen to kill civilians by not withdrawing. The bottom line is until one side or the other cedes defeat, civilian casualties are unavoidable. Claims that Russians are deliberately targetting civilians are no more credible than claims that Ukrainians are killing their own people to blame on Russians and/or torturing POWs to death. Everything coming out of there should be assumed to be deceptive propaganda until proven otherwise, including even the death counts themselves. Ukraine has just as much to gain by inflating civilian death numbers as Russia has to gain by hiding their own casualties. The first casualty of any war is always the truth. Both sides will lie if they think theres even a slight military advantage to be gained from it. Ukraine in particular has virtually no chance of victory without support from other nations, and thus has a very large amount of motive to use propaganda to increase that support.
I suppose they could carpet bomb Mr Terrorists hut on in the suburbs (destroy 1/4 mile cricle), or land a 100 man strike force and fight their way in (you need artillery and close in air support) or use a drone with a relatively small blast and just take out him and everyone within 6 feet it him. Oh, yeah. Navy Seals - why endanger US soldiers on some terrorist prick.
Drone attacks kill many more civilians than non-civilians. Whole wedding ceremonies have been cremated by drones in order to kill one "terrorist"
It occurs to me that this is one way Putin could withdraw without totally losing face. He could say he doesn't want to kill any more civilians and it's the Ukrainian's fault. Nobody would believe it, of course, but his propaganda minister would feel better
He will take the whole east of the Dnieper river to save face, then call the operation done. Once Mariupol is over with it will free up enough forces to flank every Ukrainian position in the east.
Basically....the Russkis have lost the entire military initiative here....it's terrorizing the masses now.....Kyiv is abandoned now....Shock and Awe in 72 hrs is an epic disaster and has exposed Russki military as 4th rate. Putinkas days are hopefully numbered....and the crippling sanctions will destroy the RFs economy for a decade or more.
He couldn't take Kyiv in 3 days....he won't get anything East of Dnieper....there's no support anywhere other than maybe Crimea.
And that has what to do with anything? The U.S. is not in this war. The US doesn't target civilians like the Russians. Stay on topic.
