A Letter To Nadezhda*

To the fifteen-year-old girl who was gang-raped by Russian soldiers in a cellar day after day while her mother bled out on the concrete floor nearby, seeing her daughter mutilated but unable to do anything to stop it as she died in agony

*The name Nadezhda is used ironically and stands for all of the infants, girls, and women who have been raped, tortured, and killed by Russian troops since they invaded Ukraine over a month ago and for whom hope no longer exists

Dear Nadezhda,

We in the West are of course naturally very sorry that you were brutalized in such a traumatic fashion but we want you to know that we are doing many important things to rectify the situation.

First of all, we are going to make a lot of noise about investigating war crimes such as the one that was perpetrated upon you, even though of course no one will ever be prosecuted, never mind subject to even the slightest punishment. But it makes us feel good to pretend we’re doing something, even if it is rather risible and pointless.

Secondly, as sanctions have had no effect whatsoever on Putin’s ability and desire to wage war against your peaceful nation, we are naturally going to…