As the Russian-Ukrainian war continues to escalate, the number of civilians caught in the crossfire has increased. At least seven people have been reported dead in separate attacks in Russia and Ukraine as Russia continues to fortify its offensive in northeastern Kharkiv, Ukraine. Two Russian missiles hit a hardware hypermarket in Kharkiv with 200 people believed to be inside, killing four and injuring at least 38. Ukrainian shelling attacks in Russian Belgorod killed three people and wounded at least 10. None of the injured or killed were reported to be anything other than civilians. Both Russia and Ukraine have denied targeting civilians; however, reports suggest that civilian attacks are a matter of increasing concern as the war continues to drag on past its second anniversary. 

Russia has repeatedly claimed that it does not target civilian infrastructure. Yet, United Nations figures, Ukrainian officials, and aid groups have reported tens of thousands of civilian casualties since the start of the Russian invasion. In a statement issued by Ali Jazeera, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the attack on Kharkiv was “another manifestation of Russian madness” since the target was not military infrastructure but one of the biggest shopping centers in the city. In response to the Ukrainian shelling attacks on the border region of Belgorod, Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to establish a “buffer zone” in Kharkiv. However, the promise of such a statement remains to be seen since Russia frequently launches air attacks on Ukraine from the region of Belgorod.

Although the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is dire, attacks on civilians are unacceptable. Civilians being caught in the crossfire is unavoidable; however, directly targeting civilian infrastructure as a military strategy is inhumane and directly violates the ethics of war. Russia has been frequently confirmed to be guilty of this during the Russian-Ukrainian war, and Ukraine should be ill-advised to pursue such a strategy. Targeting civilians will only lead to more bloodshed and is punishable by the United Nations International Court of Justice. For the sake of those all involved, fighting should only be limited to military and political actors who are directly engaged in the struggle.

Notably, the Russian-Ukrainian War officially began on the eve of February 2022 as Russia unprecedently invaded Ukraine. For much of its duration, the war has been locked in a bloody stalemate, with neither side being able to make more than small gains until now. The current battle of Kharkiv – Ukraine’s second-largest city, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Russian border – can be a significant turning point for either side. Kharkiv has faced waves of nearly daily attacks ever since Russian forces have bolstered its offensive by pushing forward through Ukraine’s eastern front. If Kharkiv falls, it would be a devastating blow for Ukraine and further place Russia in the upper hand of the war. 

The Russian-Ukraine war is reaching a pivotal moment in time, but attacking civilians remains unacceptable. Civilians already suffer the most from war, so military tactics should be dedicated to targeting other military and political actors to end the conflict instead. Little is to be gained from targeting civilians other than shedding more unnecessary bloodshed. Even in times of war, certain ethics must not be crossed; if not, it would set a terrible precedent on the question of civilian safety in future wars.