Russian Hardliners Urge Formal War Declaration After Drone Strike on Strategic Bombers

Some members of the Russian elite are pressuring President Vladimir Putin to officially declare war on Ukraine, following the major Ukrainian drone attack targeting Russian strategic bombers during Operation SpiderWeb, Orda.kz reports.

According to The Telegraph, which cites sources within the Kremlin, the scale of the drone attack has caused "shock and indignation" among Russian officials.

Pro-war politicians have intensified calls for a shift in strategy.

But amongst Russia’s hardline nationalist elite, there is growing belief that Putin has not gone far enough, that he should formally declare war, recruit a million more men, and wipe out Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government with daily missile strikes on Kyiv. 

The sources say those backing this stance include figures who had previously expressed support for Wagner PMC founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led a failed mutiny in 2023.

These individuals argue that unless Zelenskyy’s government is completely dismantled, Russia will continue to suffer from drone strikes, sabotage, and even terrorist attacks.

Despite mounting pressure, the Kremlin has not yet altered the framework of its ongoing campaign. One source affiliated with a think tank tied to Russia’s Defense Ministry suggested that a change remains unlikely.

Though the conflict has now lasted more than three years, Russia continues to label it a "special military operation" rather than a war. A formal declaration of war would enable broader military powers, including general mobilization and potentially even nuclear escalation — options the Kremlin has so far avoided.

A new wave of mobilisation would mean not only economic strain but also a public acknowledgement that the Kremlin is not succeeding in its three-year war against its neighbour,The Telegraph noted. 

With no centralized "war party" left in Russia following Prigozhin’s death, and political risks growing, Kremlin insiders told the media that a full-scale escalation remains unlikely for now.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny