Myth: Russia doesn’t strike civilian objects in Ukraine.
Fact: Numerous cases of Russia deliberately striking civilian objects were observed and documented, including bomb strikes on the Mariupol Maternity Clinic and Mariupol Theater used as a shelter by the civilians in 2022, or a missile strike on Okhmatdyt Children Hospital in Kyiv in 2023. While some of the Russian strikes on civilians can be explained – but not justified – by errors in targeting, and some particular damage to the civilian infrastructure has been delivered due to the falling remnants of the intercepted Russian missiles and drones, there is a simple reason the Russian terrorists keep striking civilian targets and appartment houses in Ukraine: stretching Ukraine’s air defense.
By attacking Ukraine’s civilian objects – like schools, hospitals, appartment buildings, or kindergartens – Russian terrorists force the Armed Forces of Ukraine to withdraw some of its air defense units to provide cover for residential areas while leaving important strategic facilities – military bases or fuel storages – less protected. This is a purely terrorist tactics utilized by the Russian invaders since 2022, when the Russian air force failed to establish air dominance due to an effective Ukraine’s air defense.