Since then, Kyiv has reported substantial gains for the Ukrainian army. On the first day of the resumed military offense, Ukrainian media reported rifts developing among separatist forces. Later in the day, a video appearing to show rebel fighters surrendering to Ukrainian soldiers surfaced online. The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, backed by Moscow, dismissed the clip as “cinema” on its official Twitter account.
At a press conference on July 2, National Security and Defense Council spokesman Andriy Lisenko claimed that, over the course of 24 hours, some five Ukrainian soldiers had lost their lives while “hundreds of separatists had been killed.” The separatists were quick to deny the claims.
From the moment the ceasefire ended, both sides moved rapidly to strengthen their military capabilities. Videos surfaced on the night of July 1 appearing to show columns of heavy artillery and tanks being transported through the Donbas. The intensity of the military operation has grown along with its scale. At the same time, increased use of mortars and grad rockets has triggered reports of indiscriminate shelling by both government and separatist forces.
Ukraine’s military operation may represent the lesser of all evils for a country determined to safeguard its territorial integrity against an externally fueled uprising. Nationwide mobilization in recent months has turned the Ukrainian army from a demoralized and inexperienced entity into a motivated and united force. With the conflict becoming more entrenched by the day, however, it appears a full-scale assault has come too late to prevent innocent lives from getting caught in the crossfire. The way it is being conducted only exacerbates the issue.
Overlooking the unreliability of facts and figures publicized by both sides, and leaving aside even the morality of Poroshenko’s decision, Ukraine’s military offensive continues to claim innocent civilian lives. Those on the ground talk of widespread anger among local residents.
Even if Ukraine suppresses the insurgency, it appears the experience has left many Ukrainians disillusioned and war-weary. The hesitant nature of the government’s initial response in April made today’s tougher response more necessary than ever.
Whatever the coming days will bring, the government’s anti-terrorist operation must take care of the lives – and the livelihoods – of ordinary citizens who never wished for such a tragic existence.
Kyiv Post staff writer Matthew Luxmoore can be reached at [email protected]
