The only solace for every life lost, every school, church and hospital bombed into smithereens in this senseless war in Ukraine is that it ultimately will prevent World War III.
At least that’s the hope.
Ukraine’s refusal to surrender to Russian President Vladimir Putin has put it in this most unfortunate position. Either they accept Russian dominance or they risk their lives defending their sovereignty.
It’s still unknown whether Ukraine can withstand the onslaught. Russian forces have now resorted to indiscriminately bombing city centers. Buildings clearly marked as housing women and children or the infirm are as much targets as military installations.
The West’s best hope is that Putin’s murderous rage is working to strengthen European allies so much so that Putin will be dissuaded from either advancing farther or using more lethal means.
On Sunday, authorities in the port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, said Russian troops are forcibly taking — kidnapping — several thousand Ukrainians and moving them across the border into Russia. Most are women and children, presumably destined for work camps.
Eighty percent of Mariupol’s structures have been destroyed. Of its 400,000 citizens, only 100,000 remain, sheltering in basements without food, water or power.
Russian forces are also preventing the transfer of food and medical supplies into Mariupol. Those with the World Food Program call the blockades “unacceptable in the 21st century.”
The conditions in Mariupol are “medieval,” said Ukrainian MP Dmytro Gurin.
The story of Mariupol will likely be the story of the war as it unfolds. And we’re all holding our breaths their spirits will not yield to Putin’s barbarianism.
The horror is not limited to Ukraine.
Almost 10,000 Russian soldiers have died in the 26-day war, according to a tweet posted by a pro-Kremlin tabloid.
That’s more than the number of American troops killed over 20 years in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
Another 16,000 Russian soldiers have been injured, according to the Wall Street Journal.
This is an astronomical toll on Russian forces. Yes, their numbers are deep, but such a death toll is unsustainable for effective combat maneuvers, the experts say. Also shocking is that a pro-Russian publication would release such information.
