Ah yes, because drone strikes on schools in Donbas isn't a war and jailing opposition leaders is what normal countries do.

The period between Euromaidan and the SMO is rather terrifying. Suggesting that the war started with the SMO is completely missing the context of what happened prior to that event.

Context doesn't justify an action, but it's important for understanding it. The same applies here: the context of the Russian invasion doesn't justify Ukraine launching missiles at their own civilians, but it helps us understand why it happened.

Edit: with further context being revealed in the past day, I was wrong on this. The casualty count in this context is indicative of a precision strike and a gathering of friends and family and low-ranked military personnel is not a valid proportional military target to even come close to justifying the civilian casualties under international conduct code for armed conflict. Sorry, everyone.