Seven Dead as the War in Ukraine Continues

On September 4th, Russia carried out an attack in Ukraine’s western city Lviv, which resulted in the deaths of seven people. The attack came shortly after a bombardment of a military institute in Poltava left 53 dead, making this the deadliest attack of the year. According to the BBC, 271 people have been injured in bombardments on Poltava and several others are thought to still be trapped under the rubble. Another attack in Kharkiv killed one person and injured 42 others. President Volodymyr Zelensky said these latest attacks underscore the need for more long-range weaponry to be provided by Ukraine’s partners and allies in the West, claiming it is necessary to destroy Russian military targets at their root. However, the U.S. and its allies fear providing these weapons would only escalate the conflict further. 

“Every Russian strike of this nature, every instance of Russian terror, like today in Kharkiv…this proves that there must be a long-range capability, and it must be sufficient,” said Zelensky after the attacks on Kharkiv. 

By year’s end, the war in Ukraine will have entered its fourth year, and civilians make up the majority of deaths in this conflict. Despite Russia’s claims that it hasn’t intentionally targeted civilians, thousands have died in bombings since the war started in 2022. Aside from constantly supplying weapons to allow Ukraine and its people to defend themselves, Western powers need to start working toward a peace deal or agreement that would end the war or minimize the effects it has on civilian populations. The risk of escalation is very present; however, the war has lasted far longer than Putin had expected, and it has proven difficult on his people and the country. At the very least, there needs to be some kind of agreement established that would allow better protections for civilians and humanitarian aid. Civilians are those most affected by war, and it’s important that world leaders start looking for ways to end the conflict and allow Ukraine to rebuild.

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