Sejong Focus

(March 2023 No.17) History of Urban Bombardment and War in Ukraine

Date 2023-03-02 View 1,496

History of Urban Bombardment and War in Ukraine

 

Kim, JungSup

(jungsupkim@sejong.org)

Vice President

The Sejong Institute

 

 

     Criticism on civilian casualties from War in Ukraine is high. Bombardments on a city and civilian casualties are a violation of the international norm. Despite the ethical legitimacy or international norms, City bombing and civilian casualties is the tragic reality of modern warfare.

 

     In the history of modern warfare, states have prioritized strategic calculation over ethical considerations in desperate situations during wartime. Moreover, the War in Ukraine is a conventional war under the shadow of a nuclear war. Currently, it is a war of attrition in an endless war, but the West also bears the possibility of expansion to nuclear war.

 

     After all, the current status of the war in Ukraine cannot be resolved by justification, norms, and military solutions. Consideration must be paid toward the exit strategies, diplomatic negotiations along with arms support, and determined willingness to fight