The actions of the Russian troops in the Donbas are a demonstration of the classical “scorched earth” tactic. Russia always resorts to such actions when it cannot quickly occupy or hold the occupied territory. Then it starts to destroy. This tactic was fully seen after the withdrawal of the Russians from Kherson: after the occupiers were forced to retreat in November 2022, they began shelling the city, snipers organized a real hunt for the local residents.
Throughout January and the beginning of February, the Russian army carries out particularly brutal destruction of populated areas in Donbas, practically erasing them from the face of the earth. Putin finally decided to use such tactics in an effort to turn the territory of Ukraine into an empty desert. This crime will bring suffering to Ukrainians and upheaval in Europe: Ukraine must receive prompt support to expel the occupier from its land.
On February 3, the Russians attacked the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, with cluster munitions. A day earlier, a targeted attack was made on a residential building in the city of Kramatorsk — 3 people were killed. Artillery terror in Russia is growing exponentially — some border communities in Chernihiv and Sumy region are subjected to daily mortar shelling with cheap Soviet ammunition, which the occupiers “dispose of” in such a way. For example, on February 3, 120 missile strikes were recorded on the territory of Sumy region. There is a certain regularity of such Russia’s war crimes: if shelling and violent destruction of residential infrastructure is carried out in Donbas with the aim of breaking the resistance of the Armed Forces and expelling the entire local population, then in the border areas north of the contact line such shelling is a manifestation of revenge, the desire to cause maximum damage and destruction of Ukraine, which does not want to surrender to the occupier and defends its independence. More than 5,000 hits are recorded daily on the territory of the frontline and border settlements of Ukraine. This is without places of direct military clashes between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the RF Armed Forces.
Putin has rejected all possible restrictions and is simply trying to seize as much Ukrainian territory as possible: he follows the principle of “destroy and move on”, which was tested by the Soviet army. Also, Russia is preparing for a long war, and military reforms in its army will take place within three years. If Putin can adapt to the initial shock of war, he will mobilize millions of Russians and march with this force on Europe. It is extremely important not to allow him to do this: the Russian army must be neutralized in the Ukrainian Donbas with the help of Western weapons — this is a necessary contribution to the peaceful future of Europe.