How Russia’s attack on Ukraine violates international law
PBS NewsHourMar 05, 2022
A Russian Sukhoi-34 warplane accidentally bombed the Russian city of Belgorod late on Thursday, injuring three civilians. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov added that four cars and four apartment buildings were damaged. "Thank God there are no dead," he said.
In a statement, Russia's defense ministry admitted the error, stating that the fighter jet "accidentally discharged aircraft ordnance" at 22:15 local time on Thursday.
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 an 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 an 8% chance that there will be more than 4 deaths between Russia and NATO forces outside of Ukraine before July 1, 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.