How to help Ukraine as Vladimir Putin bombards its cities

, Volodymyr Zelensky, has called for one. His enemy, Vladimir Putin, has condemned the idea. A is becoming a measure of how fervently you support Mr Zelensky and his brave compatriots. Who could be against protecting Ukrainian civilians from Russian bombing that counts as a war crime? Besides, a no-fly zone would let Ukrainian troops strike at Russian convoys without the threat of an aerial attack. It is an alluring proposal. It is also wrong-headed.Calls for to impose a no-fly zone are growing louder because, in the second week of war, Russia has switched tactics. After the failure of its initial lightning assault, through a combination of Ukrainian courage and resourcefulness and Russian incompetence, Mr Putin is resorting to the murderous use of brute force. Russian armour has made most ground in the south, having burst out from Crimea and from Donbas in the east. Progress in the north is slow, but the aim is clearly for troops coming from Belarus and the east to encircle the capital Kyiv, besiege it and, if necessary, pummel it into submission.