Does this give Putin a right to strike back? The Ukrainian Army has sent Britain's Challenger 2 tanks into Russian territory. The consequences might be felt around the world.
X
Next
British tanks 'rolling through Russia'
Does this give Putin a right to strike back? The Ukrainian Army has sent Britain's Challenger 2 tanks into Russian territory. The consequences might be felt around the world.
X
PreviousNext
Vladimir Putin thought he had everything under control. It was just a matter of time until he could declare victory over what he described as Ukraine's "neo Nazi regime".
But on 6 August, around 12,000 Ukrainian troops crossed the border to Kursk OblastOblasts are Russian administrative areas or territories. . Within a week Ukraine had captured 82 settlements. It has emerged that Ukrainian soldiers were using British Challenger 2 tanks. NATOThe North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was founded in 1949 to unite Western democracies in Europe and North America against the perceived growing threat of the USSR. It now has 31 members. technology was leading the charge.
It might feel for Putin like NATO itself has invaded his country.
The Kremlin has already accused NATO of planning the attack, so to some Russians, this might feel like grounds for a new world war.
Ukraine believes it is acting within international lawNon-refoulement is a fundamental principle of human rights law that forbids "pushback," returning refugees to warzones. Countries sometimes attempt to circumvent this by using private ships to return migrants.. Its allies agree. A UK government representative said: "Under Article 51 of the UN CharterThe foundational treaty of the United Nations., Ukraine has a right of self-defence against Russia's illegal attacks," that could include fighting in Russia itself.
The Russian Army has reduced cities to rubble and tortured and killed civilians. Ukrainians might feel it is only fair to strike back, and that by moving the action to Russia, they hope to remove Russian soldiers from their own territory.
Does this give Putin a right to strike back?
Yes! If Russian civilians have been attacked and Russian land occupied, it is within Russia's right to try to take them back.
No! NATO has given Ukraine's weapons for defence, not offence.
FOR YOUR SUMMER READING CHALLENGE CLUE GO TO STEP SIX IN THE SIX STEPS TO DISCOVERY BELOW.
X
Previous
Keywords
Oblast - Oblasts are Russian administrative areas or territories.
Nato - The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was founded in 1949 to unite Western democracies in Europe and North America against the perceived growing threat of the USSR. It now has 31 members.
International law - Non-refoulement is a fundamental principle of human rights law that forbids "pushback," returning refugees to warzones. Countries sometimes attempt to circumvent this by using private ships to return migrants.
UN Charter - The foundational treaty of the United Nations.
British tanks ‘rolling through Russia’
Provocation: Ukraine’s 82nd Air Assault Brigade, part of the Kursk invasion, has been using British Challenger 2 tanks (above) since last year. The UK has supplied 14 of these tanks. Glossary
Oblast - Oblasts are Russian administrative areas or territories.
Nato - The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was founded in 1949 to unite Western democracies in Europe and North America against the perceived growing threat of the USSR. It now has 31 members.
International law - Non-refoulement is a fundamental principle of human rights law that forbids "pushback," returning refugees to warzones. Countries sometimes attempt to circumvent this by using private ships to return migrants.
UN Charter - The foundational treaty of the United Nations.