Calling the war in Ukraine a 'tragedy' shelters its perpetrators from blame and responsibility

Labeling a Russian rocket attack that killed 12 people in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, as a 'tragedy' sidelines human accountabilty. Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to cause unspeakable, unimaginable suffering. By now, the word “tragedy” is firmly installed in the lexicon of the war and has become almost a cliche.

Journalists record tragedies in Ukraine in their many heartbreaking manifestations. Marking the first anniversary of the war in February 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden said, “This war was never a necessity; it’s a tragedy.”