According to relevant international legal norms — as reflected in political statements and decisions of states and international institutions — Russia is committing an act of:
- ILLEGAL and
- UNPROVOKED
armed aggression against Ukraine.
Do you understand?
ILLEGAL.
Therefore, there are no lawful targets on the territory of Ukraine by definition. None. At all.
Even the most purely military target is ILLEGAL from the outset.
With regard to Russia, the opposite is true. Because Russia is the aggressor and the perpetrator of the crime.
ALL:
- military targets,
- dual-use targets, and
- targets significant for the continuation of Russia’s ILLEGAL armed aggression against Ukraine
are LAWFUL targets.
Striking Nova Poshta is illegal. But striking Wildberries is LAWFUL.
Especially since Wildberries actively sells equipment used to attack Ukrainians and protect occupiers and war criminals.
Striking Ukrainian ports and ships is illegal. Striking Russian ones is LAWFUL.
Shooting at Ukrainian soldiers is a crime. Shooting at Russian soldiers is LAWFUL as long as Russia continues its act of illegal aggression.
Even when Ukrainian forces are physically present and operating on Russian territory, they are acting lawfully, within the framework of legitimate self-defense.
As long as the act of illegal armed aggression continues, Russia remains the perpetrator, while Ukraine is the victim acting in accordance with the right of self-defense.
Moreover:
Ukraine is an extraordinarily civilized and patient victim of aggression that for years did everything possible to de-escalate and did not respond symmetrically to Russian atrocities. Even though a large share of possible symmetrical responses would have been entirely LAWFUL, as part of necessary self-defense.
In addition, Ukraine previously had to make extremely careful choices among LAWFUL targets.
Now Ukraine is exponentially increasing the quantity and quality of its long-range strike capabilities. The possibilities are expanding, and the range of targets that can be reached with reasonable means is growing every day.
Dear Russians, You should quickly realize how many LAWFUL targets for Ukrainian strikes are located around you.
A hint: Ukraine has dismantled the integrated Russian air defense system over the occupied territories of Crimea, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, as well as in the waters of the Sea of Azov. Every day you can see video evidence of dozens of drones attacking targets of their choice that Russia is unable to protect.
At some point (soon), Ukraine will have the ability to effectively strike targets as far as the Urals with dozens of drones at a time. Dozens of drones will break through defenses in multiple directions simultaneously and operate against selected targets. They will not be limited only to oil refineries.
The only place where it may be possible to hide relatively safely will be within the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD). And even that will last only until Ukrainian ballistic capabilities become operational.
So instead of recording videos, you should go to the walls of the Kremlin, express your position, and demand an end to the illegal aggression.
Previously, falling victim to Putin’s repressive machine was more frightening because the war was objectively taking place on Ukrainian territory. But now everything has changed. The balance of risks is fundamentally different.
Not to mention forced mobilization, which has already been introduced selectively and will become widespread in the autumn.
The war will come around you. The key to ending it is in the Kremlin.
