Russia's Version: Ukraine Committing War Crimes

"The situation in Mariupol is difficult and hard. Fighting is happening right now. The Russian army is constantly calling on additional units to storm the city."

"But as of now the Russians haven't managed to completely capture it."

Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, Ukraine Defence Ministry spokesman 

"The number and scale of missile strikes on targets in Kyiv will increase in response to any terrorist attacks or acts of sabotage on Russian territory committed by the Kyiv nationalist regime."

Russian Defence Ministry

In the city of Mariupol. The band of fighters who remain in the city are cut off from reinforcements, food and weapons

 

Russia invades and relentlessly attacks Ukraine, and has the unmitigated gall to warn Ukraine of severe consequences should it 'sabotage' Russian territory. The Ukrainian government's actions in defending itself marks it as a 'nationalist regime', but Russia's malevolent actions to destroy Ukraine's sovereignty doesn't betray the actions of a totalitarian nationalist regime. By fighting back, Moscow designates Ukraine's servicemen as 'terrorists'. Moscow really does believe that perception is reality and subjective interpretations however ridiculous, has the ring of truth.

Russia's invading troops laid siege to the Black Sea port city of Mariupol for close to a month, pounding it unstintingly with bombs and artillery shells, transforming a once-modern, vibrant city of 400,000 people to smouldering ruins, with those of the population not yet evacuated to safety, either dead or persisting in existing in the underground ruins of their once-stable city without light, heat, potable water and food.

This is medieval butchery writ large, that civilization was supposed to have overcome following the Second World War, in its vows that never again would such savagery be allowed to occur, and the world believed that never again would any state descend to the depths of humanity's most bitter and primitive urges to destroy what others have built, and in the process annihilate those with whom they disagree.

Russian President Vladimir Putin may not have surprised himself, but he certainly has taken the rest of the world by surprise in his decision that it would be worthwhile to make a pariah state of Russia in pursuit of his vision of power over a neighbour's destiny, including the power to command his troops to spare no one and destroy whatever represented the height of Ukraine's civil achievements in the interests of seeing it cower and beg for mercy.

The destruction continues apace, with ample evidence of the Russian military's willingness to obey their leader's instructions for annihilation and mayhem in pursuit of victory against a neighbour that resisted a proffered role as satellite revisited, preferring to go its own way. Leaving the Kremlin nonplussed and furious that a nation they felt would quickly fly a white flag of surrender instead fought back to wreak their own punishment on a presumptuous foe honouring neither courage nor the sanctity of life.

To its battle credits in its own defence, Ukraine has counter-assaulted, destroying tanks, armoured vehicles, warplanes and now the flagship of the Russian Black Sea fleet, the destroyer Moskva, leading to the evacuation of its 500-member crew and the sinking of the ship. The plan to mount a naval assault against Ukraine is now askew, to Moscow's incredulous rage.

 

Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images

Bodies lie in the street in Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, in Ukraine on April 2, 2022 after Russian forces withdrew from the town.

If a symbol of courage and determination were sought, none could offer the same dramatic effect as the missiles Ukraine sunk the Moskva with. If a symbol of Russia's inhuman acts of violent totalitarianism were to be sought, look no further than the body counts in Bucha and Mariupol. If proof were needed of the primitive nature of hatred and lack of conscience, it could be found in scenes of Russian soldiers shooting at Ukrainian civilians desperately attempting to escape scenes of carnage.

Ukrainian defence ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk spoke of Russia's use of long-range bombers in attacking Mariupol since February 24, and turning to other cities to capture in Ukraine's east. Clarifying its major intent now, since its efforts in encircling Kyiv with the intention of removing Ukraine's government and bringing the country to its knees failed, Moscow now says it aims to capture the Donbas's two provinces partially in the hands of ethnic Russian separatists.

 

Defenders in Mariupol fight from the stronghold of the Azovstal steel works, fending off Russian troops in the final remaining stronghold of Ukrainian resistance, while Moscow claims to have captured the second Illich steel works, both owned by Metinvest, an empire owned by Ukraine's wealthiest businessman representing the backbone of the country's industrial east.

 

"We believe in the victory of Ukraine and plan to resume production after the end of hostilities", declared Metinvest's statement, adding the enterprise would never operate under Russian occupation. The loss to the Russian fleet of its largest vessel equipped with guided missiles meant to shoot down planes and attack shorelines, with radar providing air defence cover for the fleet, is irreplaceable.

 

Naval power was used to blockade Ukrainian ports with the threat looming of an amphibious coastal landing. The menace to Ukraine from the sea appears now to have been hugely diminished. A diplomatic note was delivered from Moscow to the United States with the caution of "unpredictable consequences" should Washington continue to provide Ukraine with weapons shipments.

 

Bodies of civilians are seen along a street in Mariupol. An estimated 100,000 people remain in the city — trapped without food, water, heat or electricity — during a siege that has made the city the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)