After the Ukrainian operation "Website"; Russian military and political "hawks" are increasing pressure on the Kremlin to declare war on Ukraine. They hope for increased mobilization in Russia, and also want to intensify the brutal bombing of peaceful Ukrainian cities, writes The Telegraph.
Sources from the Russian Federation interviewed by the publication reported that there is "shock and indignation" in the Kremlin after the strikes by Ukrainian drones on Russian strategic bombers. Some told journalists that they perceive the strikes as a personal tragedy. Others demanded that Russian President Vladimir Putin "declare war" on Ukraine, instead of what is now called “special military operation“.
There is a growing belief among Russia's hardline nationalist elite that Putin should formally declare war, recruit another million men, and destroy Volodymyr Zelensky's government with daily missile strikes on Kiev.
Russian “hawks“, that is, supporters of a harder war, believe that a formal declaration of war would allow for escalation - daily strikes with intercontinental missiles and the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons. They also count on a mass mobilization, within the framework of which Russia could call up up to 2 million reservists.
According to one of the sources, Putin is unlikely to declare war on Kiev because he is “completely satisfied“ with the current situation.
Earlier this month, Ukraine simultaneously struck four military airfields in the rear of the Russian federation, where the Russians were hiding strategic bombers. Dozens of planes were destroyed, and according to experts, this military operation will go down in history as one of the most successful and daring.