After 2013-2014 Euromaidan
revolution, Russia occupied the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea and parts of
Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Putin might have been told that
Ukrainians would not be reluctant to accept hybrid Russian invasion. At least
that would seem logical continuation of Yanukovych rule aimed at rising
introduction of Russian influence on Ukraine. But Ukrainian nation united to
resist Russian aggression. Instead of providing military assistance to Ukraine
according to Budapest Memorandum, the Western countries managed only to start
Minsk talks that ended in ambiguous agreements. Yet, even their terms are not abidden
by Russia. Its regular army violates Minsk agreements shelling civilians with
no clear purpose.
The senseless violence that Russia
resorts to might pursue several objects in fact. First of all, old KGB manuals
tell to keep the enemy in terror. Closed freedom-deprived Russian society keeps
common people terrorized. The totalitarian ideologists target perceived freedom
as a major distinction of democratic societies. As soon as people are deprived
of water, provision and heating in cold winter, they will incline to the concept
of peace at any price. Unfortunately, many eastern Ukraine locals are eager to
stay at their homes, which makes them de facto war hostages. Besides, Kyiv
Government does not possess enough resources to accommodate them elsewhere as
IDPs. Yet, humanitarian help and state budget allocations are sent to Avdiivka
and any other town to provide relief.
Another possible explanation of the
shelling residential areas is an integral part of the hybrid war developed by
Russia. Since 1991 Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, three ex-USSR states
neighbouring Russia, have attacked themselves which made Russia interfere,
usually declaring need “to protect Russian-speaking population”. Manipulating
media, presenting national resistance to the occupation as ethnic cleansing, Russia
still lives according to the 19th century standards, regarding world
as divided into zones of influence.
Finally, shelling of the residential
areas can be regarded as the last hope option. It is the last resort of a
criminal that has nowhere to run. As Kremlin war crimes are documented and
submitted to the international courts, the team of Putin impostors are ready to
use anything to blackmail the whole world. Putin is reported to sincerely doubt
people’s ability to start protests and to resist will of the powerful
officials. It is a pity that population of many countries around the world
still consider the USA as the only reason for every war – thus fuelling Putin’s
greed.
