apple bomb isa is a pulitzer prize winning journalist and a staff writer at the atlantic magazine. 6ood writer at the atlantic magazine. good to have you on the programme, thanks forjoining us. we speak as russia has unleashed large attacks on ukraine. what is the purpose of these attacks, but as russia aiming to achieve? what you think of the timing of this particular attack? i think we can say there are two purposes. one is connected to the timing. russia is making a point, they are saying that they don t care about international laws and summits, they are not bothered by diplomatic rules and laws on war and conventions against genocide. the attack is meant to show the world that they are a rogue state they are not beholden to the rules that others have written or decided to abide by for the last several decades. the second purpose is the