The destruction of human life on the streets of Bucha and Borodyanka, and in the basement shelters of Mariupol, is both monstrous and banal. The dynamics of such an evil, wanton aggression of humans on humans, are deep and difficult to fathom.
Some atrocities seem to have been committed by soldiers running amok, a symptom of a complete human breakdown. How much of this was organised, part of a deliberate policy and command? Who should be held accountable, and can they be held accountable at all? Craziness in the ranks of a chaotic army in the field is complemented by a collective psychotic craziness among the leadership in Moscow.
