Nationalists close to Putin call for the use of nuclear weapons

Observers say the increasingly aggressive rhetoric reflects growing uncertainty over the increased range of Ukrainian drones. It also highlights the debate about how Russia can protect its vast territory and at the same time pursue its goals in the war of aggression that began in 2022. “What else needs to happen for us to start fighting properly?” nationalist entrepreneur Konstantin Malofeyev asked after an oil refinery in Moscow caught fire in a Ukrainian drone strike last week. War means victory at any price. “Why don’t we use the nuclear weapons that our ancestors developed and accumulated with all the strength of the nation for precisely this purpose?” Malofeev added.

Entrepreneur Konstantin Malofejew wants escalation

Some nationalist commentators have called for Moscow to adopt Iran’s military and diplomatic tactics against the United States. The blog “Obsessed with War,” which has more than 650,000 subscribers, advocates making major Ukrainian cities uninhabitable through bombing. Others call for the US-brokered peace talks to be broken off and the Ukrainian state to be completely destroyed. The blogger Yuri Barantschik explained on the short message service Telegram that the systematic air strikes on Moscow would not have been possible without Washington’s consent. US President Donald Trump gave Ukraine a free hand because he was weakened against Iran. Russia must now assert itself.

People close to the Kremlin said that President Vladimir Putin could tolerate this rhetoric because he has firmly controlled the political system for 26 years. Nevertheless, such statements could complicate decision-making in Moscow, experts say. They fueled popular expectations that the war would expand, while the leadership in Moscow wanted to keep the option of a diplomatic solution open.

So far, the Kremlin has resisted pressure from hardliners to break off negotiations – even though three high-ranking government officials said this week that talks with the US had remained inconclusive. They accused Washington of not implementing the peace proposals agreed upon at the summit between Putin and Trump in Alaska last year.

Kremlin publishes addresses of European factories

Putin has so far avoided supporting the nationalists’ most extreme demands. However, in April the Russian Defense Ministry published the addresses of European factories that are supposed to produce drones for Ukraine – which was seen as a warning. The Russian Foreign Ministry also announced “systematic strikes” on military targets in Kiev last month, followed by more serious bombings that, among other things, damaged a 1,000-year-old monastery that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Putin himself remains convinced of his current strategy. He told graduates of military academies on Tuesday that Russian troops were about to capture the eastern Ukrainian town of Kostiantynivka in Donbas. He is also counting on political forces that want to normalize relations with Russia to gain influence in Europe. In the end everything will work out, said Putin.

Nevertheless, the situation for Russia continues to worsen. The authorities appointed by Moscow on the annexed Crimean peninsula had to declare a state of emergency on Friday due to economic difficulties. Tourism operations were suspended and children’s holiday camps were closed until September. The authorities justified this with a lack of fuel and safety concerns. In addition, gas stations have stopped selling fuel to private individuals and companies since June 21st. This is likely to thwart the vacation plans of many Russians for whom Crimea is a popular summer travel destination.