It is clear how to act to prevent the barbaric shelling of Kharkiv, writes military analyst Oleksiy Kopytko. All that is needed is Western weapons and the political will of the allies, who must understand that Kharkiv is also Europe.
By 2022, Kharkiv was among the 20 largest cities in Europe by the number of officially registered population — 1.4 million+ people. The real population was closer to 2 million.
Among non-capitals in Europe, only Istanbul, St. Petersburg, Hamburg, Barcelona and Munich were larger than Kharkiv. Actually, Kharkiv was located between Munich and Milan.
When Russia shoots at Kharkiv, I try to remember the moment of comparison for clarity. Because Kharkiv is incomprehensible, and Barcelona is understandable.
That's right. If you mark on the map the boundaries where the flights arrived, then at least a third of Kharkiv (Barcelona, Milan, Munich) can be turned into ruins from the territory of the Russian Federation without the use of cruise/ballistic missiles.
The ammunition with which Russia is training to kill children in Kharkiv is still crude, but it has a greater destructive power, as compared to the S-300, and - most importantly - in some time (months) it can be produced in commercial quantities.
Measures for neutralization are clear. The first is strikes on launchers on the territory of the Russian Federation. The second is means against Russian tactical aviation. Our partners have enough of both. Moreover, part of the means has already been transferred and mastered by the Ukrainian army, but there is a ban on their use on the territory of Russia.
The matter behind the small one is a political decision. All those who evade such a decision are helping the Kremlin to destroy Kharkiv and inviting trouble to Europe.
It will end with Russian bombs falling on EU and NATO cities. Because the Kremlin is perfecting its weapons in combat conditions, while Western countries are scratching their heads. Plus, a demonstration of fear is the best provocation for the Kremlin.
If Putin can destroy one of Europe's largest cities with impunity, it's only a matter of time before he decides to move on.
