This is the first war in my memory that is being played out in real time over social media, to Western audiences. Ukrainians have full access to all social media at the same rate as we do. It's not that the Russian military has not always used rape as a weapon, it's that they are having it presented with pride to the world on a daily basis, which is going to be impossible to get away from.
Not everyone would have read a story in the Post or Times about Afghanistan or Georgia, but everyone would have heard or seen these atrocities on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit or other media. Technology has progressed to the point where this will be a legacy that can't be escaped.
A gutsy diplomatic move would be to ban Russian men from immigrating but allow Russian women refugee status based on an entrenched culture of rape.
To be clear, I know that generally speaking the majority of Russians would be as disgusted by the actions of their military as any of us are, but it looks like a sledgehammer is needed to get the idea through that there needs to be zero tolerance of this behavior, and we all know that the soldiers will not be punished upon returning home.
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"By Grabthar's hammer ... what a savings."
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