> Russian or rebel forces bombed Luhansk and Donetsk since 2014, and the Zaporizhia nuclear plant since the war started
The important distinction to be made, there were no rebel forces, but the separatist forces. You are giving too much grandeur to the group that is used to torturing people [1]. The takeover was controlled by Russian officers as well [2]
Also the unofficial existence of anti-retreat forces in Russian forces devalues your argument.
If they shoot the deserters, do they really care about the civilians? Especially considering that their propaganda will tell it's "bad" Ukrainians anyway. It defies logic and that's exactly how Russia loves to operate (see: Putin's speeches)
This meme just won't go away, because most people don't believe how barbarous and cruel Russians can be. [3]
The important distinction to be made, there were no rebel forces, but the separatist forces. You are giving too much grandeur to the group that is used to torturing people [1]. The takeover was controlled by Russian officers as well [2]
Also the unofficial existence of anti-retreat forces in Russian forces devalues your argument. If they shoot the deserters, do they really care about the civilians? Especially considering that their propaganda will tell it's "bad" Ukrainians anyway. It defies logic and that's exactly how Russia loves to operate (see: Putin's speeches)
This meme just won't go away, because most people don't believe how barbarous and cruel Russians can be. [3]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izolyatsia_prison
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Girkin
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_torture_chambers_in_Uk...