Russia’s genocidal war on Ukraine has entered a new and terrifying phase. We hear about the murder of innocents in Kyiv, Lviv, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv and more. No longer are Russian attacks primarily focused on the front lines where military forces face each other; Russia is increasing its targeting of innocent civilians who are far from the front.

Orphanages, schools, sports stadiums and apartment buildings are not military targets. People trying to live their lives peacefully are not soldiers. Children who simply want to be with their friends should not be killed when walking to school. Citizens shopping at a market or patients in a hospital are not legitimate military targets.

Russia is increasing its attacks on innocent people, in contravention of the Geneva Conventions and with complete disregard for the laws of war. This is an escalation of Russia’s brazen disregard for the international rule of law.

Now, instead of ground troops attacking and killing civilians — such as what happened in Bucha and Irpin in the early phase of this genocidal war on Ukraine — the attacks are coming from the air from drones, airplanes and missiles launched from sites within Russia. Some sites are within 100 kilometres of the border with Ukraine, others further away. Some of this airpower is provided to Russia by Iran and North Korea. Some of these armaments — incredibly — include microelectronics made in western countries.

Many of these missiles are shot down by Ukraine using defensive weapons provided by western countries. But there are not enough of these. While promises of more have been made, many have not been delivered — including those promised by Canada.

The restraints put on Ukraine by its western allies to not attack missile launch sites in Russia have become a major barrier to Ukraine’s success. These restraints enable and accelerate the slaughter of innocents and the wanton destruction of homes, schools, shops, cultural sites and places of worship.

It is obvious that Ukraine — to protect its innocent civilians — must be able to launch retaliatory strikes against the sites from where the attacks come. Hit the archer, not the arrow, is the obvious response.

Additionally, Ukraine needs to be able to strike associated military targets such as ammunition depots that house the projectiles used to kill innocents.

These are defensive, not offensive responses. These are in accordance with international law.

Yet, while Ukraine has the capability to use weapons it has received to achieve these legitimate defensive ends, it is prevented from doing so by those same countries that have provided the weapons.

Such political handcuffing of Ukraine could be interpreted as western powers caring more about the safety of Russian military sites than they care about Ukrainian civilians being slaughtered by airstrikes launched from those same sites.

Canada has stated that it puts no such restrictions on Ukraine regarding the military equipment that it has provided to date. Recently, the prime minister indicated support for Ukraine striking back. That is good news, but the reality is that Canada has not provided Ukraine with the armaments that it needs to conduct such strikes.

So, what can Canada do to better help Ukraine now?

We can work harder to convince our allies — especially the United States and the United Kingdom — to lift the restrictions that they have made and let Ukraine strike back. We can also move more quickly to meet the promises that we have made and provide more air-defence systems to Ukraine.

Winter is coming. Like many Canadians, Senator Kutcher has family in Ukraine. They live in terror of the airstrikes. They are preparing for a long-term loss of electricity, which in the freezing cold of winter means no heat, no light and no water. Just think of what it would be like if you and your family spent the Canadian winter in similar circumstances.

They are suffering needlessly. The West is fiddling while Ukraine burns.

Yet, it burns so that people in other western countries can sleep. But that fire will reach the West, on the backs of dead innocents.

Putting out the fire will benefit Ukraine and the western democratic world simultaneously.

Let Ukraine strike back.

Senator Stan Kutcher represents Nova Scotia and Senator Donna Dasko represents Ontario. They are members of the Senate Committee on National Defence, Security and Veterans Affairs.

This article was published in The Hill Times on November 4, 2024.