If only there was a hell for Putin to go to

One of the key aspects of my atheism is the absence of belief in heaven and hell. If you dismiss, as I do, the supposed existence of all the Gods who have ever been invented, then we leave this Earth as we started; with nothing. Today is that rare day when part of me almost, but only almost, wishes there was a supernatural dictator who would, on judgement day, condemn Vladimir Putin to hell. All that’s left is to hope Putin dies hated by all and in great pain. The first part is already a given.

I get no pleasure wishing death on anyone, yet I could make an exception for Putin. The Russian invasion of Ukraine represents a crime against humanity, the mass murder of the innocent, including children, at least 14 of whom have died since Putin’s deadly incursion. Worse, there can be no happy ending, for soon the final attack on Kyiv will begin.

People dismiss the idea that this could be World War Three, but I am not so sure. When Ukraine falls, Putin will be knocking directly on the door of NATO and if he chooses to go further, NATO will not stand aside and allow the tanks to roll in. Already, Russia’s increasingly unhinged dictator has implied that the use of nuclear weapons are on the table. NATO, via the USA, France and the UK is armed with nuclear weapons. What, you may ask, is the point of a nuclear deterrent if it is not used to deter?

Ah, but this will never happen, we say. Putin would back away from the brink, we’d never actually fire our own weapons at Russia. It’s sabre-rattling and by next week we’ll wonder what we were fretting about. I am not saying a wider war is certain, but it is not out of the question.

I watch the images on my television and can scarcely believe what I am seeing. Russia as moved its Thermobaric flamethrowers into position, there is a 40 mile convoy of weapons and troops approaching Kyiv, missiles are already being fired on blocks of flats and municipal buildings. Only recently, the main TV mast was attacked by the invader and five civilians, five innocent people, were killed, murdered. I still haven’t got over the shock of seeing  an image of a young toddler receiving CPR after one attack, CPR that failed. There is much more of this to come.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague awaits many of the protagonists when and if this ever ends, Putin at the top of the list. Hopefully, someone will put a bullet through his brain long before that happens.

Until then, a terrible near future is about to be visited upon us as the Russians shoot and blast their way into Kyiv. I daren’t even try to put a number on those who may perish or get badly injured in the coming days and weeks.

Russia may be in control of Ukraine within days and this conflict could drag on for years. And it will cost more than mere dollars and cents. Lives are at risk. Maybe even ours? I just wish there was a hell for Putin to go to and soon.