By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Following a major Ukrainian drone strike on Russian air bases (Operation Spiderweb), Russia launched a large-scale retaliatory attack on Ukrainian cities, resulting in casualties. President Trump, while expressing disapproval of the Ukrainian action, appeared to justify Russia’s response, suggesting it was a predictable consequence. Trump previously warned of severe Russian retaliation and has delayed imposing further sanctions on Russia, citing hopes for a peace deal. Despite this, a bipartisan sanctions bill awaits Congressional approval.
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Operation Spiderweb, a military operation undertaken by Ukraine, has been framed by some as the catalyst for intensified Russian bombing campaigns against Ukrainian cities. The assertion that this operation somehow “gave Putin a reason” to escalate the violence ignores the long-standing history of Russian aggression against Ukraine, which predates Operation Spiderweb by years. It’s a deeply flawed argument, suggesting that the victim is somehow responsible for the aggressor’s actions.
This perspective fundamentally misrepresents the reality of the conflict. The claim that Operation Spiderweb provided a justification for the widespread bombing of Ukrainian cities is ludicrous when considering the years of prior Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and residential areas. Putin’s actions have consistently demonstrated a disregard for human life and international law, long before any recent Ukrainian military actions.
The suggestion that Ukraine’s defensive actions somehow provoked the Russian attacks is akin to blaming a rape victim for fighting back against their assailant. Russia initiated the war, and its ongoing attacks on civilian populations are a clear war crime. Ukraine’s actions are, at their core, defensive responses to an unprovoked invasion and sustained assault on its sovereignty and its citizens. It’s a crucial distinction that gets lost when the narrative shifts blame to the victim.
Furthermore, the argument conveniently overlooks the strategic nature of Operation Spiderweb. While the specifics of the operation aren’t fully public, reports indicate a focus on military targets, such as airfields and bomber bases. Targeting military infrastructure in an active conflict is a legitimate military tactic, completely different from the indiscriminate targeting of civilians that Russia routinely employs. To claim that a response focused on military assets somehow justifies the subsequent bombing of civilian targets completely reverses the moral and strategic context of the war.
The idea that Putin “needed” a reason to bomb Ukrainian cities is fundamentally untrue. His justification for the invasion—a false pretext about protecting Russian-speaking populations—was itself a fabrication. Years of relentless attacks, targeting both military and civilian structures, demonstrate a pattern of brutal aggression. Operation Spiderweb did not create this pattern; it is only one event within a much larger, ongoing conflict.
This perspective is not just historically inaccurate but morally reprehensible. It places the blame on the victim, absolving the aggressor of responsibility for their atrocious actions. It’s a dangerous narrative, one that risks normalizing and legitimizing the Russian atrocities and undermining support for Ukraine’s fight for self-determination. To suggest that Ukraine’s self-defense somehow provoked the Russian bombing campaign is to actively participate in the disinformation campaign that seeks to justify Russia’s actions.
The sheer volume and severity of Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians long predate Operation Spiderweb. The argument presented fails to account for the established pattern of Russian aggression, presenting a distorted and incomplete picture of the conflict. Shifting the focus to a single Ukrainian military action ignores the larger, ongoing conflict and the consistent pattern of Russian brutality. It’s essential to maintain a clear understanding of who the aggressor is and who is defending themselves against an unprovoked attack. A fair and accurate assessment must acknowledge the years of Russian aggression preceding Operation Spiderweb, and the blatant war crimes committed by Russia during the conflict. Ukraine’s actions should be viewed within the context of self-defense against a brutal and unjustifiable invasion.