When Infrastructure Is The Weapon
When the UK Prime Minister decries Russian attacks on Ukrainian power plants as 'particularly depraved,' one might assume this moral clarity extends to all instances of critical infrastructure targeting during conflict. Apparently, some forms of infrastructure targeting are more 'depraved' than others, or perhaps the depravity index shifts based on the perpetrator. CASE A: Russian Attacks on
Ukrainian Energy Sites The Framing: Starmer (as quoted by BBC World) states, "Russian attacks on Ukraine energy sites 'particularly depraved.'" The language implies a unique level of moral turpitude, focusing on the civilian impact of losing heat and light. This is presented as an unambiguous evil. The Effect: This framing positions Russia's actions outside the bounds of acceptable wartime
conduct, rallying international support for Ukraine and condemnation of Russia. CASE B: NATO Bombing of Serbian Infrastructure (1999) The Parallel: During the 1999 NATO bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, critical civilian infrastructure, including power plants, water purification facilities, and bridges, was systematically targeted. Reports from Amnesty International
(2000) detail how these attacks led to widespread power outages and disruptions to essential services, impacting millions of civilians and contributing to health crises. The Framing: At the time, officials like then-US Defense Secretary William Cohen, referred to such actions as necessary to "degrade and deter" the Yugoslav military. The bombing of Novi Sad’s power plant was, for instance,