I agree with you and agree that, sadly, this is what war looks like. But you're wrong on one point: the Russian soldiers don't have a choice. Their government is at fault. Yes, it has to be done. Yes, they killed many Ukrainian civilians. But they were conscripted and given the option to fight, or face capital charges (which likely means death). Did this soldier personally deserve it? Maybe, maybe not. But it had to be done.

[–] hydrashok@sh.itjust.works 13 points 10 months ago

I agree. It’s shit and I’ve become desensitized to things like this.

But they do have a choice, and that is one of surrender. If this soldier had put up a white flag, he would be alive today. Instead he chose to eat a grenade.

I have a hard time coming to terms psychologically with the latter part of your post, personally, about whether this particular soldier deserved what happened. As a human being, of course not, all should have the opportunity to be free and flourish. But as an extension of his government’s warpath lunacy, yes, he did.

At the end of the day, the ultimate blame, and the person for whom these poor people are dying, falls to Putin, but the choice is ultimately still up to the individual soldier: surrender, leave, or die.

[–] hydroptic@sopuli.xyz 10 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

People keep pretending like the Russian government is completely separate from Russians. Somehow they've just always managed to end up with incredibly brutal and violent governments over the past few hundred years, but the poor poor little Russians are never at fault for that.

Fuck them, and fuck that attitude.

[–] Doorbook@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Are you talking about civilians or militants?

If you talking about civilians, the problem with your logic is that everyone is complicit some way or another.

[–] hydroptic@sopuli.xyz 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

They are complicit, just like Germans were before WW II.

[–] Doorbook@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

The thing is, eroupe still get energy from Russia. Which means Eroupe is complicit. Along with companies that sells electronics and other equipment needed to create and launch missile. These electronics and other military resources comes from deals with China.

Nato and Eroupe and many other countries deal with China which basically support Russia directly.

So where do you draw the line of separation between miltant government and civilians.

[–] Olhonestjim@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

So they should kill their authorities who send them to another country to kill, rape, and torture civilians.

[–] CapeWearingAeroplane@sopuli.xyz 1 points 10 months ago

Sorry, but they really do have a choice. They could choose to face those capital charges, and risk dying without killing others first. They could choose to attempt to surrender or desert, and risk being killed without causing harm to others. They could choose to turn their guns on their conscription officer, or other commanders (as some have done) and likely die while fighting to protect others.

They made a choice to risk their life in an attempt to kill innocents. They could have chosen to risk it while protecting them.