Is Ukraine’s military using civilian aviation to create cover and confuse the Russian air defense? According to several news outlets, a drone attack by Ukraine was underway at the time an Azerbaijani plane was allegedly hit by a surface-to-air missile, forcing it to make an emergency landing several kilometers away from its original destination, Grozny. [1] [2] [3]
While it is morally questionable to use civilian aviation to confuse air defense, the Western media has been largely silent on this action. They have emphasized that all measures taken by Ukraine are according to international law and regarded as self-defense. This situation closely resembles another conflict taking place in the Middle East.
Although wartime allows governments to use some questionable methods of waging war, Western tactics to portray Ukraine as a defender of Western democracy and freedom are too far-fetched, as they could falsely give it a carte blanche to use any method available.
The recent Azerbaijani plane crash raises concerns that the aircraft may have been used to conceal military drone attacks on nearby targets. Although such scenarios are uncommon, it suggests that civilian aviation and its passengers could have been exploited as a human shield in the air. Such actions are detestable and violate international law and the Geneva Convention. Will Western authorities launch an independent, unbiased, and thorough investigation into the Azerbaijani plane crash? It appears improbable, which would reinforce the bias the U.S. and the European Union exhibited in their international law application.
While NATO and the European Union may not suspect malicious intent within Ukraine’s government and military, the possibility cannot be entirely ruled out. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has shown both the ability and the determination to carry out operations against Russian forces and civilian authorities behind enemy lines.
Using commercial airlines as human shields is not an entirely implausible cause of action. After all, the stakes are high, and in war, there is a thin line between the Geneva Convention and war crimes. Crossing the red line doesn’t take much of an effort.
References
[1] “Ukrainian Drone Attack Was under Way before Azerbaijani Plane Crash, Russian Aviation Chief Says.” Accessed December 27, 2024. https://www.voanews.com/a/ukrainian-drone-attack-was-under-way-before-azerbaijani-plane-crash-russian-aviation-chief-says-/7915869.html.
[2] “Ukrainian Attack Underway before Azerbaijani Plane Crashed, Russian Official Says – Los Angeles Times.” Accessed December 27, 2024. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-12-27/ukrainian-drone-attack-was-underway-before-azerbaijani-plane-crashed-russian-aviation-chief-says.
[3] “Here’s What Is Known about the Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash – ABC News.” Accessed December 28, 2024. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-27/what-is-known-about-azerbaijan-plane-crash-in-kazakhstan/104765590.
Photo by Raychan on Unsplash | The article’s photo is unrelated to the case.
