By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A Russian attack on Dobropillia, Donetsk, killed at least 14 civilians and injured dozens more, including children, following a missile strike on an apartment building. Simultaneous drone attacks in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv, resulted in further casualties. This intensified bombardment follows a week of reduced US aid to Ukraine, a move some European leaders attribute to US appeasement of Russia. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called for increased sanctions against Russia, while condemning the attacks as a vile intimidation tactic.
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Russia launched a devastating attack on Ukraine, striking the center of Dobropillia with ballistic missiles. A five-story apartment building was engulfed in flames, and a subsequent strike targeted the same area as emergency responders arrived. The attack resulted in the tragic deaths of eleven civilians, including five children, and injured thirty more. This horrifying event underscores the escalating conflict and the human cost of the war.
This brutal attack follows comments made by a prominent political figure defending Vladimir Putin’s actions, claiming the Russian leader is merely “doing what anybody would do.” This assertion is deeply troubling, minimizing the scale of the aggression and the suffering inflicted on the Ukrainian people. It ignores the clear evidence of premeditated violence and disregard for human life.
The stark contrast between the near-universal agreement five months prior that Putin was the aggressor and the current normalization, even celebration by some, of the ongoing genocide is shocking. It exposes a troubling shift in perspective and a disturbing disregard for the sovereignty of a nation and the lives of its citizens.
This conflict isn’t just about geopolitical maneuvering; it’s about the suffering of innocent people. The sheer number of civilian casualties, especially children, underscores the devastating human impact of the war. The callous disregard for human life exhibited by the aggressor is appalling.
Furthermore, the suggestion that Ukraine is somehow “difficult” to deal with, rather than acknowledging Russia’s unprovoked invasion, is a dangerous distortion of reality. This deflection from the core issue of Russian aggression only serves to further enable the violence. It’s a deeply cynical attempt to excuse unacceptable behavior.
The ongoing war also raises profound questions about accountability. The suggestion that certain individuals are actively enabling or supporting the aggressor raises concerns about potential complicity in war crimes. The idea that this support extends to influencing the flow of intelligence, further undermines the stability of the international order.
The Budapest Memorandum, an agreement signed by Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, clearly establishes Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty. This violation is a clear act of aggression, leaving no room for ambiguity on the question of blame. The agreement itself calls into question the moral stance and reliability of the international community in upholding such commitments.
Beyond the political posturing and geopolitical strategy, there remains the fundamental reality of human suffering. The ongoing conflict has led to unimaginable loss of life, widespread destruction, and enduring trauma for the Ukrainian people. The narrative of the conflict should center around this human cost, not justifications or excuses for aggressive actions.
The suggestion that the aggressor might be satisfied only after completely overwhelming and breaking Ukraine is deeply disturbing. The idea of a “ceasefire” under such conditions is not a peaceful resolution, but a cynical attempt to legitimize conquest through exhaustion and surrender.
The normalization of such extreme violence and the deflection of blame towards Ukraine is deeply unsettling. The casual dismissal of the violence committed against Ukraine calls for urgent reflection on the underlying factors that allow such justifications to gain traction. It exposes the dangers of unchecked rhetoric and the potential for narratives to be manipulated for political gain. This alarming trend shows how quickly collective memory can be distorted and how easily empathy for victims can be replaced by indifference or even support for aggressors.
The future implications of this conflict extend far beyond Ukraine. The erosion of international norms, the disregard for human rights, and the rise of authoritarianism pose significant threats to global stability and security. The events unfolding in Ukraine should serve as a stark warning of the potential consequences of unchecked aggression and the dangers of appeasing dictators. The international community needs to hold the aggressors accountable for their actions and actively work towards preventing similar conflicts from occurring in the future. The silence from many in the face of this unfolding tragedy is deafening.