In the village of Yarova near Kramatorsk, Russian forces dropped an aerial bomb on civilians waiting in line to receive their pensions. The strike has already left over 20 dead, with the casualty count continuing to rise. Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, are demanding a strong response from allies. While condemnation from the global community is expected, such crimes have become routine and largely ignored internationally.
Since the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, war crimes have become commonplace. Initially, incidents like Bucha shocked the world, but similar tragedies now rarely make global headlines as the international community has grown accustomed to the constant war news.
The Russian military, strongly supported by the domestic population, continues killing civilians as a matter of routine. Military leaders are even decorated for these actions—Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov received a state award from President Putin on his 70th birthday amid ongoing war crimes.
Ukraine’s Western partners struggle to find real tools to influence Russia and its leadership. Once, diplomatic isolation was a deterrent, but with figures like Donald Trump insisting on negotiations with Putin, such levers have essentially disappeared.
Meanwhile, Russian propaganda persists in portraying Donetsk region as part of Russia, but the actions of the occupying military show otherwise. Instead of protection, local citizens face violence, destruction, and a worsening humanitarian crisis, including a lack of water in occupied Donetsk.
The Yarova tragedy highlights who Russia considers its enemies—those who refuse to submit to force and occupation. For Ukraine, it is another stark lesson in what “liberation” truly means under Russian rule. Recovering from aggression will take many years after de-occupation.
