The Morning Dispatch: The Brutality in Bucha

The world reacts to reports of civilians allegedly murdered by the occupying Russian army.

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Happy Tuesday! A Minneapolis news station found footage of an 11-year-old Prince supporting a teachers’ strike, and researchers say stingrays can add and subtract. These two pieces of information aren’t related, we just thought you’d like to know them.

Quick Hits: Today’s Top Stories

  • The Senate voted 53-47 on Monday to advance Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court, a procedural move necessary to break an 11-11 tie in the Judiciary Committee. Republican Sens. Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski announced they will join Sen. Susan Collins in supporting Jackson’s final confirmation, which is now on track to take place by the end of this week. 

  • In response to reports of Russian forces massacring civilians in Ukrainian cities, Germany and France announced Monday they will expel dozens of Russian diplomats from their respective countries. “[Russian embassy staffers] have worked here in Germany every day against our freedom, against the cohesion of our society,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. “Your work is a threat to those who seek protection from us. We will not tolerate this any further.”

  • Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have in recent days become the first European Union countries to halt Russian gas imports. Russia accounted for nearly all Lithuanian gas imports in 2015, but about a quarter of them in 2021. “Years ago my country made decisions that today allow us with no pain to break energy ties with the agressor [sic],” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda tweeted. “If we can do it, the rest of Europe can do it too!”

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  1. Avatar photo
    Young Riprock

    This is an example of Sarah’s favorite non-Dispatch dichotomy: Can I believe is vs. Must I believe it. The NY Post and various other conservative leaning outlets reported on this a year ago. The relevant evidence was public records and YouTube videos. But now more than a year later, NYmag gets around to reporting the same story, with a couple of insider comments.
    https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/04/black-lives-matter-6-million-dollar-house.html

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    Wanda Anderson

    On Ukraine, I say we are too late to the game……the aircraft fighters were needed long ago. Of course, better late than never. I’m hopeful Elon Musk will make big changes to Twitter or better still, take it over/destroy it and start anew!! The Silent ones are too darn silent……long May freedom of speech, choice, and reality ring!!! Let’s clean up the mess in DC once and for all…..both sides of the fence!!!

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  3. Anna Marie Murdock

    I would like to see us take greater measures to help Ukraine. I don't believe Russia wants war with us. I believe we could do more without escalating things. We cannot let them bully like this. It will not stop.

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    Theirn Scott

    The question about how much more we should be involved in the conflict has always been limited by the fact of Russian being a significant nuclear power. I don't see the Bucha revelations lowering that barrier. It seems to me the only thing limiting any nation with a MAD level nuclear capability from being able to invade another country is their own morality.

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    1. Pohl

      And significant deterrence we’ve learned. Not that you can deter someone hellbent, so you’re basically correct.

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  5. Pohl

    QOTD:No, but I still would like us to up the tempo of arms deliveries and some other things we can manage on the down-low.

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  6. Bob Blanchard

    Off subject, but don't know where else to ask. Is there a Dispatch Live tonight?

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      Theirn Scott

      I'm thinking no. I could not find a link in this Morning's Dispatch

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  7. Brett.Macalpine

    Besides a slightly older Lisa Simpson, what 11-year-old wouldn't support a teachers' strike? I'm glad Prince got more interesting later.

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  8. Avatar photo
    Hrodland

    Bucha is a combination of Putin's brainwashing of his entire society--and of his blunder of sending troops into a situation that guaranteed mass casualties in the grisliest form.

    The propaganda against Ukraine has reached a crescendo of hatred in the last few years, so the troops were primed to see every Ukrainian as a potential Nazi.

    But every day Russian soldiers have heard about, or seen, comrades being burnt alive in their vehicles. With little chance to seek revenge on the Ukrainian army, civilians became their only target.

    Putin is responsible for all of this. Biden is right. Try him in the Hague, in absentia if need be.

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  9. Payette

    Declan and Esther, good TMD!! Thanks!

    I don’t need the awful photos and news of Bucha to convince me of the need for the US to stay involved against Putin’s expansionist dreams. Too bad we sat by ineptly in 2008 and 2014. Europe, the US, and Ukraine are paying the price for that craven passivity.

    In no way am I defending Russian soldiers, but being a conscript in the Russian armed forces ain’t like being in the American armed services. Training, leadership, decent treatment by your comrades, nutrition, supplies, and medical care are all lacking. And while there may be vague positive feeling about the father/motherland, those conscripts and their families have a tough and fearful life back home. Higher-ups are totally aware of the criminal behavior by the Russian troops. Brutality and criminal behavior permeate the entire Russian system.

    Can anyone recommend books on Russia AND books on Ukraine? I am finishing Kasparov’s “Winter is Coming,” and finished Baker and Glasser’s "Kremlin Rising.” Neither shows the last 6 years.

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      Theirn Scott

      I just downloaded but have not yet read "The Man Without a Face" by Masha Gessen. I've heard it's a good book to understanding Putin.

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      1. Payette

        Thank you!

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  10. Ben Bobbitt

    Bucha hasn’t really changed my mind because it isn’t the least bit surprising. This behavior was already baked into my opinion.
    What has changed my mind somewhat is the military reality on the ground. Seeing Russia get whipped around Kyiv and reading all the reports about their various, and serious, shortcomings in the campaign have led me to think we should turn the screws harder. It seems that the RU army may be close to a breaking point. No one expected this. NATO has also been reinforced along the eastern flank.
    Increasing our involvement now when maybe just a little bit more help will give the UKR forces the ability to destroy the ongoing threat to the region posed by the RU army is a risk/reward calculation very different from one where UKR teetered on collapse and the RU army appeared competent. A little more involvement now (and risk) may just accomplish a great deal more than “only” saving Ukraine.
    If RU is able to stalemate UKR in the southern and coastal regions of Ukraine, it would give them a valuable territorial win and dramatically weaken Ukraine. Putin could claim victory and his odds of staying in power would improve.

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