Russia is stepping up its attacks on Ukraine, despite constant statements about its readiness for peace talks. According to The Independent, this is part of Russia's cynical tactic to force Ukrainians to accept an unprofitable agreement, just to end the war.
Experts say Russia is using the same tactics as in Syria, in Chechnya and in countless other wars that Moscow has fought for decades and centuries. Ukraine has fallen victim to Russia's attempts to demoralize its victims through inhumane actions.
For this reason, the Russians are carrying out attacks on maternity hospitals and kindergartens, targeting the most vulnerable members of society, as well as systematic torture of Ukrainian military and civilian prisoners - without any objective purpose other than deliberate and demonstrative cruelty.
Moscow denies striking civilian targets, and the Russian Ministry of Defense, after a large-scale attack on Kiev, said it had carried out a night strike on "military-industrial and energy facilities" in Ukraine. But analysts accuse Russia of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure to undermine public morale.
Vladimir Putin's basic calculation is that a war-weary society under constant attack can pressure the government to accept almost any agreement that promises an end to hostilities.
However, this strategy has so far proven ineffective, as Ukrainians have demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination in the face of continued aggression.