Russian strikes on peaceful Ukrainian cities affect the course of negotiations – Rezazade

Last night, Russia carried out another massive attack on peaceful Ukrainian cities, using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and strike drones. The strikes hit residential areas and civilian infrastructure, there are dead and wounded civilians.

In Kyiv, a 17-story residential building was hit in the end, a number of cars were damaged. According to preliminary data, there were no casualties. In the Kyiv region, in the Belogorodsk community, a Russian missile hit a high-rise building - two people were killed, four more were injured.

In Zaporizhia, an explosion occurred in the courtyard of an apartment building: more than 100 apartments and about 20 cars were damaged, two residents were injured. In Odessa, the Holy Assumption Monastery was hit, and residential buildings were also damaged, injuring three people. In Kryvyi Rih, an infrastructure facility was attacked with a ballistic missile, injuring two people.

International expert and first vice president of the Iranian opposition in Washington, Ali Reza Rezazade, emphasizes that these attacks have a clear political and psychological signal.

“Russia is deliberately striking civilian targets at the very moment when talks about negotiations are ongoing at the international level. This is a demonstrative disregard not only for human life, but also for the very concept of diplomacy,” he notes.

According to Rezazade, such actions are part of a strategy of intimidation.

“The Kremlin is trying to show that for it negotiations are not the path to peace, but a cover tool for continuing the war. Strikes on residential buildings are an attempt to break the moral society and impose fear as an argument,” the expert emphasizes.

He also points out that the systematic use of ballistic missiles and drones in cities makes no military sense.

“These are not mistakes or “collateral damage”. This is a deliberate choice of targets that falls under the definition of war crimes,” Rezazade emphasizes.

In his opinion, each such night makes the illusion of “negotiations without pressure” more and more dangerous.

“While Russia is killing civilians, any talk of compromise without real security guarantees only encourages the aggressor. The West’s reaction must be tough and practical, otherwise strikes on peaceful cities will become the new norm,” the expert summarizes.