Russia uses ‘scorched-earth policy’ in Ukraine: Over 17,000 strikes on civilian objects

Five months into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian aggressor has attacked civilian objects 60 times more often than military ones.

The relevant statement was made by the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) at the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Despite Putin’s statement that ‘the Russian army does not strike any civilian objects’, five months into the war, Russia has attacked civilian objects about 60 times more often than military ones. Numerically, it is 17.3 thousand strikes on civilian objects and about 300 – on military objects. First of all, Russian occupiers strike civilian infrastructure in the settlements situated along the front line,” the report states.

According to the CCD, the Kremlin expects that such shelling will encourage local residents to stop resistance and make a stand against the ‘Kyiv Regime’.

The ‘scorched-earth policy’ replaced the Russian army’s stake on mobile groups penetrating deep into the country, which had failed.

In general, over 50% of the total housing stock was damaged or destroyed in Mariupol, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Bucha, Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. Over 3.5 million Ukrainians lost their homes, which is 8% of the country’s population.

Russian troops also target health and educational institutions, cultural objects. In particular, over 830 health institutions, 2,129 educational institutions and 530 culture and arts objects were damaged all over Ukraine.

Another reason for frequent strikes on civilian objects is the low accuracy of Russian weapons and that Russian troops may use outdated or incorrect data. According to the CCD, over 70% of Russian missiles miss the intended target.

Nevertheless, using the ‘scorched-earth policy’ is recognized as a war crime and terrorism across the globe, the CCD stressed.

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