I get that Chernobyl is near the border of two countries at war, but why the everloving hell is anyone targeting anything within miles of the exclusion zone? Are there any military units anywhere near there, or is it intentionally being targeted as an oblique dirty-bomb threat?
Yup. Science/math/chess/music and literature to name a few are better with russians involved. Then there's the russian government: that's a problem. Their military subdues by shelling to bits civil targets come what may. Then there's the Ukranian POWs and kids ... the Russia gov doesn't give a cats whisker.
Agree. What putin's government understands is a 2x4 upside the head. I'm reminded of the cool hand luke line: "If that's the way he wants it, he gets it."
That's even worse. They are humans who want to see more suffering. The famous quote from one Russian propagandist about Ukrainians dying: "I don't pity them at all". Me and you care and think that losses on both sides are atrocious. Russians don't care.
When you're at war you just want to hurt the enemy; you're not thinking straight so to speak. It takes enormous professional restraint - both personal and organizational - to not say fuck it all and just press the nuclear launch button after a bad day on the ground.
Because any resource which is thought to be safe from bombardment will be utilized. Sadly this is extremely common all over the world. In war zones, armed forces use hospitals, schools, etc, as a base of operation (which invalidates its protected status by international law), then cry fowl when their cover is eventually bombed.
Not saying Ukraine used Chernobyl for military purposes, but it would definitely not surprise me if they did, or if Russia wanted to rule this out. Either way, war is awful, too bad we are only going towards more war and more conflict. We're a dumb species.
Diverted from regular target, then they bombed it because it's a vaguely industrial looking structure? I don't really see the logic in deliberately bombing Chernobyl, but Russia has not been particularly discriminate. Active nuclear plants have lost external power for cooling due to targeted strikes on energy infrastructure before.