Last Friday, I had the pleasure of catching up for lunch with a colleague who is also an ethicist. While our discussion was broad ranging, we kept returning to the notion of good and evil, and the idea of ‘just wars’ in relation to #Ukraine. 1/22 🧵 
2/ At the same time we were discussing the ethics of war, the Organization for Security and Cooperation and Europe released its latest report that examined the horrific acts attributed to the Russian Army and its proxies in Ukraine. osce.org/odihr/522616
3/ The report notes that “some of the most serious violations encompass targeted killing of civilians, including journalists, human rights defenders, or local mayors; unlawful detentions, abductions and enforced disappearances of the same categories of persons…”
4/ It also describes “large-scale deportations of Ukrainian civilians to Russia; various forms of mistreatment, including torture, inflicted on detained civilians and prisoners of war.” smh.com.au/world/europe/w…
6/ As someone who spent 35 years honing my professionalism in the Army, these Russian acts are indicative of a professionally corrupt and morally hollow Russian military institution. But one does not need to be a soldier to be repulsed by the actions of the Russian Army.
7/ This latest round of revelations provides only more evidence about the mindset of Putin and his determination to erase the existence of #Ukraine. And it should provide further impetus, and indeed a rapid escalation, in western support to help Ukraine defeat #Russia.
8/ So, what does Ukraine need for the next phase of this war?
9/ First, they need mobile logistics and more artillery. This means lots of trucks and handling equipment to keep up with the supply of munitions. Read @TrentTelenko for expert commentary on this.
10/ And artillery systems donated henceforth also need to be self-propelled rather than towed. Towed artillery cannot move quick enough to escape the inevitable counter-battery fire of the modern battlefield.
11/ Second, they need enhanced air and missile defences to protect their people, their soldiers, logistics hubs and high value military equipment such as #HIMARS. This will need to be integrated in a secure digital network.
12/ Related to this is electronic warfare support. This helps the Ukrainians protect their own communications and drones, breaks down Russian command and control, and provides targeting against Russian high value targets.
13/ The Ukrainians, to conduct offensive operations & take back their territory, will also need armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. Like the Russians, they have suffered significant losses to their armoured vehicle fleet over the last 5 months.
14/ More counter autonomy systems to destroy Russian and Iranian drones will be vital. Ukraine needs more of these anti-drone systems to degrade the Russian targeting for their artillery & missile, as well as deny Russia the use of suicide drones. afr.com/world/europe/h…
15/ Concurrently, NATO must work on a more standardised equipment set (especially artillery & armoured vehicles). The Ukrainians currently have some of every type of western artillery system - this will be an increasing training and logistic burden.
16/ Finally, the West needs to stand by its commitments to support Ukraine. Backsliding on military assistance commitments, or on political support as inflation rises, may be expedient for some.
17/ But in the end, it will only assist Putin and embolden other authoritarian regimes who already doubt the commitment of democracies to actually defend democracy.
18/ In the TV series, Band of Brothers, the 9th episode was called “Why We Fight”. It showed American soldiers discovering a Nazi concentration camp. The message was that despite the sacrifices of the allies, they had been worthwhile to destroy a regime capable of such behaviour.
19/ The war in Ukraine provides us with the clearest example since WW2 of a war of good versus evil. The appalling, systemic and sickening acts of the Russian Army – sanctioned by a Russian government - should be a clarion call for nations in the West.
20/ We have a moral obligation to help Ukraine win this war as quickly as possible. After all, if we aren’t willing to do all we can to help Ukraine defeat Russia and end large-scale breaches of international law and human decency, what are we willing to defend? End.
22/ Thank you to the following, whose images I used in this thread: @IAPonomarenko @TrentTelenko ft.com time.com hbo.com
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