Vladimir Putin's frightening new tactic is a warning to pro-Ukraine countries

Daily Express reports that there have been a wave of Russian attackson buildings known to be popular amongst journalists and humanitarian workers. Their goal is to get a message across: that foreign involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine will have consequences.

Where are the Russians targeting?

Putin’s troops are striking hotels and restaurants known for hosting pro-Ukraine journalists, volunteers and aid workers. Though this is far from the first report of Russian attacks on civilian buildings, there seems to be a new pattern emerging that officials are interpreting as a warning to foreign countries who support Ukraine. This comes as Ukraine continues to use Western weaponry to push forward its counteroffensive in occupied territories.

When did this start?

The first significant example of this new tactic happened on 27 June. A pizza restaurant in Kramatorsk suffered a strike that killed 13 people, including a well-known Ukrainian writer. Over the last week, similar attacks on hotels and eateries have resulted in 100 people injured and 10 dead.

What proof is there?

On 10 August, the Reikartz hotel was struck twice: the building was hit by a cruise missile and as emergency workers rushed to save those inside, it was hit for a second time. The hotel was known to be a hub for journalists and UN workers.

There is a terrifying video of Ukrainian children crying as the second missile smashes into the hotel, which is already emitting clouds of smoke from the first attack.

Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine’s defence minister, told The Telegraph that Putin’s army is using this ‘double tap’ tactic ‘to demoralise and break the will of the Ukrainian people’.

Read more: Vladimir Putin's education minister has terrifying plans to brainwash 17-year-olds, here's how

Do experts agree this is a warning to the West?

Some suspect that these attacks are not so much targeting foreignersas Ukrainian military personnel. The logic being that journalists are often drawn to spots frequented by Ukrainian soldiers to gather information and to carry out interviews.

However, following these attacks, Russian officials have stated that they are indeed targeting ‘foreign mercenary bases’, as reported by Daily Express. This seems to align with what presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak told The Telegraph: that Russia sees all foreign journalists and aid workers as an ‘absolute enemy’.

Furthermore, Alexander Lord, a lead analyst at Sibylline, has said that this approach ‘likely indicates renewed Russian focus on deterring foreigners from deploying close to the front line in Ukraine’.

Tanya Lokshina, associate director for Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch, has boiled it down to this:

Having seen all those months that colossal number of indiscriminate strikes, attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure… The only conclusion is: No one is safe.

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Sources used:

Daily Express: Russian troops deploy frightening new tactic in serious warning from Putin to the West

The Telegraph: Russia deploys new tactic as Ukrainian counter-offensive slowly makes gains