Quote:
Originally Posted by jayswin
I understand the context of this war and who the aggressor and bad guy is, but it has still jilted me a little seeing Undercoverbrother's constant cheering posts for Russian soldiers killed. 
I mean they're still human beings that are likely indoctrinated and forced into this, and even likely lied to while preparing about what they're fighting for and/or doing.
Wanting one side to win is one thing, and yes wanting one side to win means soldiers killed on the other side, and that's fine because we're like all on a similar page in that respect. But the actual fist pump style cheer post of those deaths has been slightly off-putting for me. |
Taking the position that Russian soldiers are being forced into this and have no choice but to murder innocent civilians because they were lied to needs to stop. A couple days into the war you could say that. But we are almost a month in and Russian soldiers no longer get the benefit of a doubt. Ultimately the ONLY side anyone should be concerned about is the Ukrainian side. Someone fist pumping one side to win does nothing to change the outcome and if someone's feelings get hurt to see that, then this is the wrong thread to be in.
I will tell a story that I posted earlier; a couple days into this conflict, young Russian soldiers were arriving in my in-laws village and were pretty friendly at first. They were waving at residence from their tanks. Coming out and talking to them. Asking them for directions, for food and smoking with them. One of them even gave my wife's stepsister some sugar and coffee and showed him his tank. It's completely fit the reports that it was a bunch of young men that were lied to for the reason they were sent and had no idea the real reason they were there. Many of them legitimately thought they were there for training exercises and Ukrainians would welcome them.
You know what they are doing now, in the same village a month later? They are shooting at residence trying to fix the power lines who simply want to get power to do things like charge their phones and power their homes. They are shooting at people trying to leave towards Kharkov who are attempting to leave to a safer location out West. They are ransacking homes and shooting people who resist them. They are confiscating people's phones to see if they are posting Russian soldier's positions on the village's Telegram page (which is one of the few means of informing the area of what is happening). They are bringing in buses to the village and deporting people to Belgorod (this happened to my wife's 2 male cousins a couple days ago). The Russians set off explosions in the city's center recently (killed 6 people and injured many others) and then bring in ambulances from RUSSIA along with a TV crew to showcase how they are 'helping' the Ukrainians. Much of this sounds surreal and unbelievable, but this is the reality confirmed to us as we try to keep track of my wife's family's situation who are living in the midst of this.
ONE side deserves pity and compassion, and that is the Ukrainian side and their side only. Russia has the power to make this stop. Ukraine does not. I side with UCB in hoping that the Russian death toll mounts. Because deceased Russian soldiers, who dared to invade a sovereign country on UA's own soil, means less chance those same soldiers kill innocent Ukrainians. Again, they are the priority here.