Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, has accused Russia of retaliating for the destruction of its aircraft by launching attacks on Ukrainian civilians. On Friday, that tit-for-tat escalated dramatically. In Ukraine’s capital, Russia launched an especially vicious missile and drone barrage, killing at least six people and injuring around eighty others.
The barrage marked a significant uptick in violence, as Russian forces targeted residential areas in response to losses incurred at their airfields. Ukrainian military operations that were successful in striking Russia’s Engels and Dyagilevo airfields, specifically targeting strategic bomber aircraft. Ukrainian intelligence operatives expertly disguised bargain-basement quadcopters to linger on trucks full of humanitarian aid. They used these drones to bomb the fugitive planes before takeoff.
In response to the grim new normal, Russian civil aviation authorities ordered a flight ban at regional airports in Moscow Friday night. The measures came just days after the widely reported, unprecedented attack. That’s a maximum of at least 82 Ukrainian drones traversing an extensive area around Moscow in a dramatic, high-energy eight-and-a-half-hour window. During this time, the Moscow mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, acknowledged that six other drones were headed to the capital.
The consequences of the war have gone far beyond the military sphere. In a sad epilogue, three of those emergency responders died when responding to one of the bomb sites. Upholding what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called a “traditional Russian chess game.” The violence has called the world’s attention to the issues of accountability and certainly the need to take stronger action—stronger, more decisive action—against Russia.
Zelensyy has been very clear that he’d like to see a more coordinated, global effort to apply pressure on Russia in order to stop its aggression. He reiterated that when we fail to act decisively, we only prolong this conflict and worsen the humanitarian crisis.
“If someone is not applying pressure and is giving the war more time to take lives, that is complicity and accountability. We must act decisively.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
In the past, former U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated he wouldn’t approve sanctions against Russia. This decree further muddies diplomatic waters and raises more questions about how the international community may respond to the growing conflict.
As Ukraine attacked retaliatory attacks on Russia, not to mention that Russia targets Ukraine in a tit-for-tat manner, the situation is unstable. With civilians bearing the brunt of escalating military actions, the international community watches closely as leaders navigate the complex landscape of this ongoing war.