Russian attack that left bodies scattered on city streets is not a ‘mistake’ — it’s a strategy

 

Russian attack that left bodies scattered on city streets is not a ‘mistake’ — it’s a strategy.


KYIV — U.S. President Donald Trump described Russia’s double ballistic missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy that killed 35 and wounded 117 as a “mistake” by the Russians.

But it’s no such thing.

The Sunday attack on Sumy, like the April 4 strike on Kryvyi Rih, where a Russian ballistic missile filled with cluster munitions killed 20 people and wounded 80, is actually part of a Russian military strategy. The aim is to terrorize the civilian population and turn them against the Ukrainian military and government, forcing them to sue for peace with Moscow.




KYIV — U.S. President Donald Trump described Russia’s double ballistic missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy that killed 35 and wounded 117 as a “mistake” by the Russians.

But it’s no such thing.

The Sunday attack on Sumy, like the April 4 strike on Kryvyi Rih, where a Russian ballistic missile filled with cluster munitions killed 20 people and wounded 80, is actually part of a Russian military strategy. The aim is to terrorize the civilian population and turn them against the Ukrainian military and government, forcing them to sue for peace with Moscow.


“The goal of [this] total war is to force civilians to create pressure on the Ukrainian authorities to negotiate [a] settlement on Russia’s terms. So far [the] Russians [have] failed, but they believe there’s a tipping point beyond which civilians will begin to direct their hatred not at the Russian Federation, but at our government,” he added.

It’s a tactic that countries have used against each other since the advent of air warfare in the 20th century, but there are few if any examples of terror bombing being effective in getting civilians to rebel against their government; usually, the response to such attacks is the opposite.

Blaming their own

However, the Russian attacks are highlighting strains in Ukrainian society as the war drags into its fourth year.

After the attack on Sumy, Mariana Bezuhla, an opposition MP, accused the Ukrainian military of endangering civilians by holding an award ceremony for soldiers in Sumy despite knowing about the upcoming Russian attack. The soldiers were unharmed as they were in a shelter. 

Artem Semenikhin, mayor of Konotop, a town in the Sumy region, accused the local governor of planning a ceremony for a local military brigade. He added that by doing so, the governor had helped Russia justify “a genocidal attack on us, Ukrainians.



Russia is using the presence of troops in the city to legitimize an attack that has drawn international condemnation. The Russian defense ministry confirmed it used two ballistic missiles against Sumy, saying it targeted a “gathering of Ukrainian military command,” killing 60 soldiers. Moscow accused Kyiv “of once again using civilians as human shields.”

Ukraine’s General Staff issued no statement on whether soldiers were in Sumy, but also claimed Moscow was targeting civilians and promised retaliation against the Russian military.

Whether or not troops were present in Sumy, Russia has used similar language to justify its other attacks on Ukrainian cities, Bilieskov said.



Blaming the military means falling into Russia’s trap of trying to separate the army from civilians, said Tetiana Troshchynska, a prominent Ukrainian journalist. She said the massacre was meant to demonstrate to the population “that if not [for] the military, we would not attack you!”

“It’s your fault, enemies tell us. And if we also start blaming our military instead, this will mean we lost,” Troshchynska added.

Russian targets

Understandably, Ukraine is treating Moscow’s comments with caution, recalling that in many cases cities are attacked for no military reason. In Kryvyi Rih, for example, Russia’s claim to have struck a gathering of NATO officers in a restaurant was shown to be a lie by France24, which showed footage with only staff inside the building at the moment of the attack.



So far, such total war tactics have not had the effect the Kremlin hoped, Bielieskov said. But there is a growing sense among civilian Ukrainians that being close to soldiers can be dangerous.

Because of frequent Russian attacks, the Ukrainian military no longer houses its troops in barracks. Soldiers instead live in normal apartments, but find such quarters hard to rent as many locals fear being hit by a Russian missile or drone if they open their doors to the military.

“[On] the front lines it is almost impossible to find a house. Upon arrival at the concentration point, you often had to huddle either in destroyed houses or in cars,” a Ukrainian soldier who only identified himself by his first name, Andrii, told POLITICO.

“The main reason I heard from those not letting us rent a house was: ‘A missile will fly here because of you! We don’t need this,’” Andrii added.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Popularity of Indian Bollywood Films in the Soviet Union: A Detailed Analysis

 Popularity of Indian Bollywood Films in the Soviet Union: A Detailed Analysis Indian Bollywood films gained immense popularity in the Soviet Union from the 1950s to the late 1980s. During this period, Indian cinema became one of the most beloved sources of entertainment for Soviet audiences, competing with Hollywood and even local Soviet films. The influence of Bollywood in the USSR was so strong that Indian actors like Raj Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, and Nargis became household names across Soviet republics. In this detailed discussion, we will explore the historical background, reasons for Bollywood’s success in the USSR, key films and actors, cultural influence, and the decline of Indian cinema’s popularity after the collapse of the Soviet Union. --- I. Historical Background: Indo-Soviet Cultural Relations 1. Strengthening Indo-Soviet Relations (1950s–1991) India and the Soviet Union enjoyed a strong diplomatic and economic relationship during the Cold War. This bond played a k...
Read more

The Character of Vladimir Putin: An Elaborate Analysis

  The Character of Vladimir Putin: An Elaborate Analysis Abstract-------------------------- Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, the long-standing leader of the Russian Federation, has emerged as one of the most enigmatic and consequential political figures of the 21st century. Since assuming power in 1999, Putin’s leadership has provoked intense global debate concerning his personality, motivations, and the nature of his rule. This article offers an in-depth exploration of Putin’s character, examining his psychological profile, personal history, leadership style, ideological commitments, and strategic thinking. Drawing from political science, psychology, and biographical research, the analysis provides a nuanced perspective on whether Putin fits the mold of a rational autocrat, a nationalist ideologue, or a figure with deeper psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies. 1. Introduction------------------------ Vladimir Putin has dominated Russian politics for over two decades, alternating betw...
Read more

GABIT Smart Ring: A Comprehensive Review and Discussion

Image
  GABIT Smart Ring: A Comprehensive Review and Discussion                                          Abstract--------------------- The wearables industry is undergoing a transformation. While fitness trackers and smartwatches once dominated the landscape, a new category is emerging—smart rings. Among these, the GABIT Smart Ring has entered the spotlight with promises of sleek design, in-depth biometric tracking, and a discreet form factor. This review aims to explore the GABIT Smart Ring in detail, analyzing its specifications, usability, health tracking capabilities, app integration, competitive positioning, and its potential future in the wearables ecosystem. With the promise of performance, comfort, and innovation, the GABIT Smart Ring may signal a shift toward minimalistic, yet powerful wearable technology. 1. Introduction to Smart Rings and the Rise of GABIT------------------...
Read more