[Treefence]

As Ukrainians continue to retake territories, we see further evidence of heinous war crimes, which had previously been implied, but now see visual evidence.  There is a distinct difference in peoples reaction between reading about something and seeing it.  There is a distinct difference between how civilians are being treated in areas that Russia had to fight hard to capture, vs areas that essentially rolled over and gave up, like Kherson.  We see protests by civilians in Kherson, and while there are surely war crimes being committed in these areas, it doesn't seem to be to the level of Irpin and Bucha.  We have heard stories of Mariupol, and I imagine it is far worse than Bucha/Iprin, but we might not see evidence for a long time, since Ukrainian forces are far from breaking that siege in that area.  

All that being said, I think the big question is how the west will respond.  It's possible the recent commitment of providing tanks and other armor are a response to the war crimes, but since it happened as the reports were coming out, we will not see the public's response to these images, and I wonder if it will lead to a further call for the west to do more.  Is there a line, besides a direct attack on NATO land, that would lead to direct engagement by the west against Russia?  It seems clear every day that the comparisons between Russia and Nazi Germany, as well as Putin to Hitler, are growing stronger and stronger, and I try not to use that comparison very often.

[Treefence]

As Ukrainians continue to retake territories, we see further evidence of heinous war crimes, which had previously been implied, but now see visual evidence.  There is a distinct difference in peoples reaction between reading about something and seeing it.  There is a distinct difference between how civilians are being treated in areas that Russia had to fight hard to capture, vs areas that essentially rolled over and gave up, like Kherson.  We see protests by civilians in Kherson, and while there are surely war crimes being committed in these areas, it doesn't seem to be to the level of Irpin and Bucha.  We have heard stories of Mariupol, and I imagine it is far worse than Bucha/Iprin, but we might not see evidence for a long time, since Ukrainian forces are far from breaking that siege in that area.  

All that being said, I think the big question is how the west will respond.  It's possible the recent commitment of providing tanks and other armor are a response to the war crimes, but since it happened as the reports were coming out, we will not see the public's response to these images, and I wonder if it will lead to a further call for the west to do more.  Is there a line, besides a direct attack on NATO land, that would lead to direct engagement by the west against Russia?  It seems clear every day that the comparisons between Russia and Nazi Germany, as well as Putin to Hitler, are growing stronger and stronger, and I try not to use that comparison very often.