On July 8, 2025, El Espectador, one of Colombia’s leading national newspapers, published an opinion piece by Alina Rohach, Project Manager of the Spain and Latin America Cooperation Program at the Transatlantic Dialogue Center (TDC). Titled “Each missile carries a message, and the world is mishearing it”, the article offers a timely reflection on the broader meaning behind Russia’s continued missile attacks on Ukraine—and what the international community risks by misinterpreting them.
Rohach argues that Russian missile strikes are more than acts of battlefield aggression; they are deliberate messages aimed not only at Ukraine but also at the global community. As she explains, while international discussions often center around diplomatic initiatives and negotiation frameworks, Russia continues to escalate militarily.
The op-ed outlines how these attacks are part of a larger strategy designed to wear down Ukraine’s air defenses, deplete its resources, and generate public fear. At the same time, Rohach notes, these strikes serve another function: to cast doubt on Ukraine’s resilience and sway international public opinion, especially in countries where electoral and economic pressures challenge continued support for Ukraine. The goal, she argues, is to normalize the use of military terror as a tool of diplomacy.
Read the full article via the link.