"Why is life so light?" A war journalist's view of Ukraine
The article discusses the ongoing war in Ukraine, highlighting the harsh realities faced by soldiers on the front lines and the significance of Western support amid the conflict.
The article reflects on the four-year duration since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as chronicled by Ukrainian-American journalist David Kiriuchenko. He emphasizes that Ukraine continues to fight and highlights the critical importance of Western assistance for their military efforts. The situation on the front lines, particularly in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, remains severe yet stable, with Ukrainian forces grappling with both operational challenges and a shortage of personnel in frontline positions.
Kiriuchenko recounts firsthand experiences during his time with Ukrainian troops, witnessing intense clashes where waves of Russian soldiers charged the battlefield, often falling victim to drone strikes. He expresses incredulity at what he perceives as a disregard for life among Russian forces. He notes that Ukrainian infantrymen frequently find themselves outnumbered and vulnerable, relying on new recruits to operate drones under difficult weather conditions, which complicates their effectiveness against advancing Russian troops.
Furthermore, Kiriuchenko highlights the destructive tactics employed by Russian forces, who systematically flatten towns and villages that hinder their invasion routes with bombs, leaving the remnants in ruins and eliminating any defensive advantage for Ukrainian soldiers. This brutal strategy paints a grim picture of the ongoing conflict and raises broader questions about international security, drawing connections to other global tensions elsewhere such as Venezuela, Iran, Taiwan, North Korea, and climate change issues affecting worldwide stability.