Modern laws of warfare, the logic of defense and the paradigm of humanism do not provide for the use of the Talion principle – an eye for an eye. That is why Ukraine, in defense, does not attack Russian civilians, does not send missiles or drones into civilian homes, and does not kill the children of the enemy country. Although its population and its children have been attacked many times and often on purpose.
That is why the most brutal murderer is isolated from society as much as possible, and not even all countries now have the death penalty. And his crimes do not apply to his children, and the children are not responsible for their father.
Violence is dangerous because it gives rise to further violence and goes in a downward spiral. History knows many cases of long-term vendettas, when each party to the conflict could not stop, and this led to numerous victims being drawn into the threshing floor of death.
In addition, when you defend yourself against a terrorist using a terrorist's method, you fall into a trap and become one yourself. This is also a form of losing. In fact, Hamas's task was to draw Israel into a circle of violence, because they feel great there. And Russia's task is to provoke Ukraine into inhumane retaliatory actions so that people in the West can see that we are no different and that this is not a war for independence, but two semi-wild Asian states fighting and getting into a bloody massacre.
The point of defense and defensive warfare is not to win at any cost. Our enemies use this motivation, and we can see how far it has gone in exterminating our people and their own. Senseless destruction, just to avoid admitting defeat.
The essence of defensive warfare is not to allow yourself to be killed and, while repelling the attack, to look for a way to stop the violence on the horizon. After all, the population of the enemy country may not be spared. But your own people are very much. And to make your own army a hostage and a blind executor of an unbridled desire for revenge and harm at any cost as an end in itself is a recipe for an international court. Where, I hope, Russia's current political elite will end up.
About the author: Volodymyr Hevko, marketer, blogger
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