Around 20 civilians have been killed and another 80 are injured in Russia's latest attack on Ukrainian Sumy. The community is located near the border and has both a short warning time before the attack and probably a worse air defense, believes military expert Joakim Paasikivi.
Now there are reports that ballistic rockets have also been used, not just drones. This makes the warning time extremely short with dreadful effects, he says.
War Crimes
Images show how torn-apart bodies are scattered on a regular street. Paasikivi is, however, convinced that Russia will claim to have struck military targets.
They did so last time as well, which resulted in greater damage to civilians, then they claimed to have shot at a restaurant where there were foreign officers. Then it's possible that the Russians are also shooting at industrial targets, but that's a side issue compared to this obvious war crime.
The area has so far been spared from larger battles but has been exposed to smaller incursions since the beginning of the war, according to Paasikivi. He believes that the attack is partly about Russia wanting to keep the pressure up on as long a front as possible to prevent Ukraine from concentrating its forces anywhere.
Not Giving In
The attack, like the talks being held around peace, also clearly shows that Russia has no intention of giving in. Paasikivi also thinks that the proposals put forward by the USA are giving Russia water on its mill.
I fear that the American rhetoric will more likely end up implying that it's Ukraine and Europe that want to continue the war, if Ukraine doesn't accept what is almost unconditional surrender.
