On September 15, 2024, Russian troops attacked Kharkiv with six guided aerial bombs. One of them hit a multi-story residential building, where there were many people because it was a day off. There was a fire between the 9th and 12th floors. According to the latest data, 35 people were injured, including three children. Rescue operations are still underway in the city, more than 25 people are in hospital, three of them in serious condition. Rubble clearing continues, and the number of victims may increase.
Such airstrikes are part of an ongoing terror campaign carried out by Russia against civilians in Ukraine. In the last week alone, the Russian army has launched more than 800 guided aerial bombs, 300 attack drones, and about 30 missiles at various regions of Ukraine. These massive attacks on civilian infrastructure are aimed at destroying cities and suppressing the resistance of Ukrainians.
Considering Russia’s ongoing aggression, senior NATO officials, including Admiral Rob Bauer, Chairman of the Military Committee, have backed Ukraine’s right to self-defense, including strikes deep into Russia using Western weapons. “Such attacks are necessary from a military perspective to weaken Russia’s ability to continue its aggression,” the Admiral noted. Strikes against strategic targets inside Russia could seriously reduce its offensive potential and protect Ukraine from further destruction. Bauer noted that the law of armed conflict granted nations the right to self-defence, which was not confined to their borders, if this is aimed at weakening the enemy. He also noted that the political side of these operations required special attention, as countries supplying weapons might feel responsible for their use, and discussions on this matter were ongoing at the level of international negotiations.
The Law of Armed Conflict (also known as International Humanitarian Law), governs the conduct of hostilities and protects persons who are not participating in hostilities. One of the most important aspects of this law is the right of a state to self-defense.
According to Article 51 of the UN Charter, every state has the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense in the event of an armed attack, until the Security Council has taken measures to maintain peace and security. This right is not limited by the country’s borders, which allows states to self-defense, including outside their territory, if this is necessary to protect against aggression and weaken the military potential of the enemy.
Thus, international law gives Ukraine the legal right to strike military targets on Russian territory if such measures are necessary to protect its sovereignty and weaken the aggressor’s ability to wage war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to present his victory plan at a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the UN General Assembly. One of the key issues of this meeting will be the discussion of permission to use long-range Western weapons to strike military targets on Russian territory. Ukraine emphasizes that it will use these weapons exclusively for legitimate military targets, according to international rules of war.
Biden’s decision to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons systems could be a turning point in the war, as it will enable Kyiv to effectively attack critical military targets in Russia and thereby weaken its military potential.
The situation in Ukraine requires immediate and decisive action by Western allies. Russia’s aggressive actions, including strikes on civilian infrastructure and civilians, require effective countermeasures. Only long-range weapons that allow to hit critical military targets in Russia can significantly weaken the aggressor’s military capabilities and stop further escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Western countries must realize that the fate of Ukraine is inextricably intertwined with the fate of Europe. Russia’s aggression threatens not only one state, but also the stability of all of Europe. Every day they delay with necessary weapons only adds to the suffering of civilians and strengthens Russia’s positions on the battlefield.