Russian forces are applying a brutal tactic in their war on Ukraine. The tactic, “double tap,” includes an initial strike on a specific civilian target of some value, followed by a second strike intentionally designed to kill the emergency first responders, medical staff, firefighters, and other key personnel dispatched to the location of the first attack.
Straight Arrow News contributor Peter Zeihan says that it’s just one more item to add to the growing list of Russian war crimes, but warns that the tactic, if successful from the Russian point of view, might eventually render large parts of Ukraine uninhabitable at current population levels.
Below is an excerpt from Peter’s April 16 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter:
The Russians are employing some new tactics in Ukraine’s eastern front that are adding to their ever-growing list of war crimes committed throughout this conflict. We’re looking at glide bombs targeting civilian infrastructure and Russia’s “double-tap” method.
The intent behind the Russian glide bombs is to make specific regions in Ukraine uninhabitable. They are achieving this by targeting critical civilian infrastructure like water treatment plants and electricity facilities.
When the glide bombs don’t prove devastating enough, the Russians are also implementing a double-tap method. This means they send an initial wave of attacks, wait until emergency services or repair crews can respond, and then send in another wave of attacks to wipe them out.