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KIEV/MOSCOW (REUTERS) – Escalating tensions in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia have led to an increasing chorus of demands from hardline voices for the use of nuclear retaliation against Ukraine in response to the recent deep drone strikes that targeted the Russian capital.
On Wednesday, Ukraine carried out a series of high-profile drone attacks against Moscow, targeting key infrastructure and government buildings. The attacks, which were widely condemned by Kremlin officials, have now sparked a nationalistic backlash in Russia, with hardline critics of President Vladimir Putin calling for a more aggressive approach to the conflict.
In a statement released on social media, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, said that the attacks demonstrated the “ineffectiveness” of the Russian military’s traditional tactics and called for the use of “any means necessary” to achieve victory. The Wagner group has been closely tied to the Russian military’s efforts in Ukraine and has been involved in several high-profile attacks against Ukrainian positions.
Other nationalists, including members of the Russian parliament, have echoed Prigozhin’s sentiments, calling for the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in response to the attacks. While there has been no official confirmation from the Kremlin of any plans to escalate the conflict using nuclear means, experts say that the calls for nuclear action are a clear indication of growing tensions in Moscow.
“This is a very worrying trend,” said a leading Russian security analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The fact that hardline voices are now openly calling for nuclear retaliation suggests that the conflict is entering a new and more volatile phase.”
The escalation of hostilities comes as Ukraine is set to launch a major counteroffensive against Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, the counteroffensive is likely to result in significant gains for Ukrainian forces and could potentially change the course of the conflict.
Russian military leaders have downplayed the significance of the attacks, characterizing them as “isolated incidents” and “part of a broader Ukrainian campaign to weaken the Russian military”. However, analysts say that the impact on public opinion in Russia is likely to be significant, with hardline voices demanding a more aggressive response to what is seen as an existential threat to Russia’s national security.
In the aftermath of the attacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an emergency meeting of the country’s national security council to discuss potential responses to the escalation. It remains to be seen how Putin will respond to the demands from hardline voices in the country, but experts say that the current situation is extremely volatile and that a nuclear escalation is increasingly possible.
Russia’s actions in Ukraine have sparked widespread condemnation from the international community, with many world leaders calling for restraint and the resumption of diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict through peaceful means. However, Moscow’s hardline stance appears to be solidifying support among nationalists, who are increasingly demanding more aggressive action to support Russian interests in the region.