How Russia’s attack on Ukraine violates international law
PBS NewsHourMar 05, 2022
"Heavy fighting" continued in the Donetsk region in the direction of Lyman on Mon., according to the regional military administration. Meanwhile, according to analysts, Russian forces continued to make localized advances around the north and west of Popasna over the weekend, as they reportedly seek to encircle the city of Severodonetsk. Ground assaults were reported near settlements on the periphery of the city, though no gains were recorded.
This comes as Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on Sun. that 50 to 100 Ukrainian soldiers were dying daily in the country's east as Russia presses on with its offensive in Luhansk and Donetsk.
This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after a fraudulent election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.
There's a 22% chance that Ukraine will have de facto control of at least 90% of the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts by January 1, 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.