Do Putin’s advisors really count as civilians?
Yes? Henry Kissinger was a civilian too. How is this even a question?
You may argue that assassinations of politicians of combatant nations are legitimate strategies if you like. There’s a case to be made there, though I’d not be inclined to concede the argument, but that politicians that hold no military position beyond cheerleader are civilians? How is this a debate?
It’s not a debate, you’re just being literal. Let me translate. “He’s a civilian? Who cares? Fuck him.”
Yes it’s right in the Daily Beast article:
Totally. Just like Joseph Goebbels. By all means let the man live and just speak his mind.
He holds no official government position at all. Alexander Dugin is an odious “philosopher” of hyper-nationalist and fascist rhetoric but any political influence he holds, however broad OR deep, is purely off the books. It would be just a bit like planting a car bomb to take out Alex Jones or Dinesh D’Souza.
I actually considered using Goebbels in place of Kissinger in my previous post. Kissinger was more responsible for the war in question than Goebbels, though.
Unfortunately, when bodies of civilians are found shot dead with their hands tied behind them, and maternity hospitals are destroyed in indiscriminate shelling, and captured soldiers are castrated before being summarily executed, partisan warfare is more likely to erupt, regardless of the laws of war.
That is why good soldiers know that respecting the laws of war are for their own protection.
And yet Kissinger didn’t poison his children and then commit suicide.
there’s context in the comparison.
It’s not a question of who was a worse person, but who was a more legitimate military target.
I mean, if Alex Jones convinced Trump to invade Mexico, rape, murder, depopulate, and steal their children… well, I wouldn’t shed tears.
i.e. C4 explosives 
and,
Blasting caps both electric and non-electric [time fuse or shock tube initiated].
Miles of detonating cord.
Military dynamite [it’s not Nitroglycerin based, it’s TNT].
Various electric, non-electric initiators to include wireless.
Various shape charges either pre-formed or add the C-4 yourself.
Lots of stuff - Trippler who is EOD could add much more but above is the basics to clear mines, UXO, booby traps, knock down obstacles, etc…
Ukrainian government issues denial of any involvement:
Russian Foreign Ministry reserves judgment, for now:
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria V. Zakharova, stopped short of accusing Ukraine. But she wrote on Telegram that if Ukraine was indeed responsible, “then we have to be talking about a policy of state terrorism being realized by the Kyiv regime.”
I can’t see Ukraine assassinating prominent Russians. Zelensky and his family already have prices on their heads. I doubt other Ukrainian officials want their names more prominent on the kill list.
A thought. Should Ukraine should have decommissioned all their nuclear power plants when they had the chance. If yes, then any that are currently not occupied should be shut down.
Nuclear power makes up about half of their capacity, and the next biggest source, coal power, is apparently having trouble, since they used to buy coal from Russia. So I’m going to say, no, this would have been a terrible idea, no matter the risks. If Russia just wanted to deny Ukraine the power from this plant, they could just blow up the power lines. Rebuilding that in the middle of a war would have been difficult and consume much effort and many resources.
Also, what’s the cost/benefit? Do they have people and material that could be used better elsewhere than assassinating him? Surprised Russia didn’t immediately accuse Ukraine.
If they blame Ukraine, that will make Russia look weak and vulnerable.
If they blame the west, that will undermine their intelligence agencies.
If they blame Russian saboteurs, that will acknowledge that the war is going badly and the fabric of the Russian society is starting to crack.
This is why the Russians aren’t admitting the explosions in Crimea were of Ukrainian nature. The public opinion will see it as a major weakness. The Russian people were told that Ukrainians would welcome them as liberators and that Russia would be more secure because of the military operation.
Expect to see the investigation either quietly shelved or for it to point to a jealous boyfriend or something.
Or maybe Putin will want an excuse to attack another country.