Russia’s shaming in the eyes of the world is incomplete. Further appalling acts of violence are likely to follow. This is Vladimir Putin’s invasion, not one backed by any great national mood of belligerence among ordinary Russians. Yet he is committing war crimes in his motherland’s name.
Yesterday brought the most horrifying atrocity so far, in a fortnight of shocking developments. Russian forces bombed a maternity and children’s hospital in Mariupol – and this during a supposed ceasefire, too.
Most images from the hospital are too appalling to publish. Pregnant women are stretchered from the blast zone. The maternity wards are unrecognisable. Mothers
and children are apparently buried in the rubble. Photographs capture the horror of this latest assault on humanity, and these images should have their day in court – the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Welcome to Ukraine in March 2022. Even two weeks ago, newborn babies here could arrive in the world and be expected to enjoy peaceful and relatively prosperous lives, recognisable to 750 million people across Europe. Last night, Ukrainians were being buried in mass graves.
The Kremlin’s weapons-grade liar will deny indiscriminate bombing of hospitals, schools and homes. Smartphone evidence and news media prove otherwise.
Putin is unrepentant and unlikely to be diverted from increasingly brutal attacks on civilians, in his desperate attempts to salvage pride from this botched invasion.
Nato governments face an alarming choice: increase their interventions against a nuclear-armed tyrant, or sit back while thousands more are murdered.
