Russian Hardliners Demand Putin Escalate War After Ukraine Strikes Moscow

Russian hardliners are urging President Vladimir Putin to abandon U.S.-brokered diplomacy and sharply escalate the war following deep Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory.

The demands from nationalist voices have intensified after recent attacks targeted Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Crimea.

Two attacks on passenger buses further inflamed sentiment among those demanding a harsher military response.

Nationalist commentators have long pressed for full mobilization and the assassination of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Now, they are calling for the destruction of Kyiv's government quarter and strikes on European drone factories.

Pushing for the Nuclear Option

The escalating rhetoric reflects growing unease over the reach of Ukrainian drone operations.

Analysts note a broadening debate over how Russia can defend its vast territory while prosecuting its military campaign.

Some high-profile hawks are openly calling for the Kremlin to consider deploying tactical nuclear weapons.

"What else needs to happen before we start fighting for real?" asked Konstantin Malofeyev, a nationalist tycoon, after a recent drone strike ignited a Moscow oil refinery. "War means victory at any cost."

Malofeyev questioned why Russia is not utilizing nuclear weapons, noting that earlier generations stockpiled them specifically for such conflicts.

Rejection of US Diplomacy

Hawks are also demanding Moscow abandon peace talks brokered by the U.S., expressing anger over what they perceive as failed American promises.

The "Obsessed by War" blog, which commands over 650,000 followers, urged the military to bomb major Ukrainian cities until they become unlivable.

Yuri Baranchik, a nationalist blogger with nearly 90,000 followers, claimed Washington authorized the systematic air strikes on Moscow.

He argued that the U.S. administration was forced into a weak position by Iran, prompting the authorization for Ukraine.

"So we've got no choice, either we'll get the better of Trump, or he'll get the better of us," Baranchik stated on Telegram.

Kremlin Balances Pressure

Sources close to the Kremlin indicate Putin tolerates this nationalist rhetoric within his tightly controlled political system.

However, analysts warn these statements risk inflaming public expectations for a broader military campaign.

The Kremlin has so far resisted demands to formally abandon negotiations.

Three senior government officials noted this week that talks with the U.S. stalled after Washington allegedly failed to implement proposals from a Putin-Trump summit in Alaska.

While Putin avoids endorsing the most extreme nationalist proposals, Moscow has signaled its own escalations.

In April, the Defense Ministry published addresses of European factories allegedly producing drones for Ukraine, hinting at potential targets.

The Foreign Ministry previously warned of systematic strikes on military targets in Kyiv, leading to heavier bombing runs that recently damaged a 1,000-year-old monastery in the city.

For now, Putin maintains confidence in his current strategy.

He recently informed military academy graduates that Russian forces are close to capturing Kostyantynivka in the Donbas region.

Putin also predicted that European political forces hostile to Russia will eventually be eclipsed by more reasonable factions.