As Ukraine batters Russia with daring assaults, firebrand pro-Kremlin pundits rattle nuclear sabres
So far, the Kremlin has stayed tight-lipped, saying only that it is waiting for the results of a formal investigation into the attacks, which struck air bases thousands of miles from the Ukraine border.
But fury is being openly vented across the Russia media, with pro-Kremlin pundits and bloggers seething with calls for retribution, even nuclear retaliation.
'This is not just a pretext but a reason to launch nuclear strikes on Ukraine,' the prominent 'Two Majors' bloggers said on their popular Telegram channel, which has over a million subscribers.
'After the mushroom cloud you can think about who lied, made mistakes and so on,' they added, referring to the inevitable Kremlin search for scapegoats for the fiasco.
At least one prominent Russian political analyst, Sergei Markov, urged caution, warning in a social media post that using nuclear weapons would 'lead to real political isolation'.
But popular blogger Alexander Kots demanded Russia should 'strike with all our might, regardless of the consequences.'
Of course, Russian hardliners routinely clammer for the nuclear obliteration of Ukraine, while issuing thinly veiled, but ultimately empty threats of Armageddon aimed at the Western allies. The fact they are doing so again, after such a painful series of attacks, is hardly surprising.
But it would be wrong to get too complacent and dismiss all Russian nuclear saber-rattling as mere propaganda.
In fact, there are some worrying reasons to take the slim possibility of a devastating Russian response a little more seriously this time around.
Firstly, several Russian pundits have commented on how Ukraine's destruction of a significant number of Russian strategic nuclear bombers may be interpreted as breaching Moscow's legal nuclear threshold.
Video obtained by CNN appears to show Russian combat planes burning on the tarmac following a large scale Ukrainian drone attack. CNN cannot independently verify the location of the videos but a source in the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said the drone strikes targeted four airbases deep inside Russia. The Kremlin's recently updated nuclear doctrine – which sets out conditions for a launch – states that any attack on 'critically important' military infrastructure which 'disrupts response actions by nuclear forces' could trigger a nuclear retaliation.
The Ukrainian operation was 'grounds for a nuclear attack,' declared Vladmir Solovyov, a firebrand host on Russian state TV, calling for strikes on the Ukrainian presidential office in Kyiv, and beyond.
Whatever the legality, the barrier for a Russian nuclear response remains mercifully high and such a strike is likely to be dismissed in Kremlin circles as an impractical overkill.
For a start, it would poison relations with key Russian trading partners like China and India, as well as provoke potential military action against Russian forces.
Inevitable mass casualties would be certain to invite universal scorn, further isolating Russia on the international stage.
But here's the problem: the Kremlin may now feel overwhelming pressure to restore deterrence.
It's not just the recent Ukrainian drone strikes, deep inside Russia, that have humiliated Moscow. Shortly afterwards, Ukraine staged yet another bold attack on the strategic Kerch bridge linking Russia with Crimea – the third time the vital road and rail link has been hit.
The capture by Ukrainian forces of the Kursk region in western Russia last year dealt another powerful blow, leaving the Kremlin struggling to liberate its own land. Meanwhile, weekly, if not daily, drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and airports continue to cause widespread disruption far from the front lines.
At the same time, Ukraine's allies have been gradually lifting restrictions on the use of Western-supplied arms against Russia, further challenging what were once believed to be Moscow's red lines.
Few doubt the Kremlin is itching to respond decisively, but how?
One former Russian minister told CNN the most likely response by Moscow would be more 'barbaric' conventional missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities of the kind that the people of Ukraine have already suffered for years.
'There's no other way to go, because Russia does not have the capacity to launch a massive military offensive. They don't have enough personnel for it,' said Vladimir Milov, a former deputy energy minister now living outside of Russia.
'People talk about potential use of nuclear weapons and so on. I don't think this is on the table. But, again, Putin has shown many times that he is resorting to barbarity and revenge.'
In other words, highly unlikely, but the nuclear option can't be entirely discounted. This Ukraine conflict has already taken multiple unexpected turns, not least the full-scale Russian invasion itself in 2022.
And while Ukraine and its supporters revel in the stunning successes of recent military operations, poking a humiliated and wounded Russian bear may yield dangerous and frightening consequences.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a few seconds ago
- Yahoo
A quick look back at this week's biggest stories
Here is a look back at the top stories of the week, if you're looking for a quick recap — as well as our best photo galleries and some stories away from the headlines. — Trump and Putin meet about Ukraine A much-anticipated meeting between the U.S. and Russian leaders on Friday ended without agreement on a ceasefire or a broader deal about the war in Ukraine. Read our analysis of the meeting in Alaska, and here is our story about reactions as they were coming in Saturday morning. You can also look at a report from the frontlines in Ukraine, where the defenders face big challenges. And watch an unusually animated President Putin respond to a shouted question from a reporter in Alaska. — Federal intervention in Washington, DC The Trump administration attempted to take control of the police force of the nation's capital, partially retreating on Friday after the city's leadership sued. The administration also deployed National Guard units in the district, saying it's to reduce crime. — Floods in India and Pakistan, and the war in Gaza Hundreds of people have died in flash floods in the mountainous districts of the two South Asian nations, caused by cloudbursts. Scientists say climate change is a contributing factor. A collection of some of our best photos is here. And in Gaza, hunger continues, now exacerbated by a lack of adequate drinking water as the Israeli government announces a settlement project that 'buries the idea of a Palestinian state'. — Away from the headlines If you want content away from the top stories, you mustn't miss the lost and found wallet of a Michigan autoworker, the 'Frankenstein bunnies' of Colorado, and the dwindling octopus populations of Spain's seas. Also, bugs have become popular pets in Japan. For our best visual journalism, look at the photos of the week, people celebrating the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in Kabul, Shiite Muslims in Iraq marking Arbaeen, and Zimbabwe taxi drivers showing off their love of Premier League soccer.
New York Times
3 minutes ago
- New York Times
After Alaska Summit, Europeans Are Relieved, for Now
After the much-ballyhooed summit in Alaska, anxious Europeans (including Ukrainians) can let out their bated breath. President Trump did not agree to hand over chunks of Ukraine to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, at least not yet, or to limit European aid to Kyiv. Still, in comments after the meeting, Mr. Trump lavishly praised Mr. Putin and again put the onus for a deal on President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. After all, Mr. Trump said, 'Russia is a very big power, and they're not,' he told Fox News, referring to Ukraine. 'Now it is really up to President Zelensky to get it done,' he added. 'I would also say the European nations have to get involved a little bit.' Whether he meant that the Europeans should also pressure Ukraine to come to terms or that they should provide further aid and assurances to Kyiv was not clear. Mr. Zelensky said on Saturday that he would meet Mr. Trump in Washington on Monday. But the outcome of the short Alaska meeting, with more talks to come, reveals an underlying problem for the Europeans. They have no strategy of their own for bringing the war to a close, let alone for defeating Moscow. Instead, they have been racing to keep up with the variable stances of Mr. Trump, trying to hold him to certain red lines that protect Ukrainian sovereignty and European security. For Mr. Trump, the war in Ukraine, which he consistently blames on Mr. Zelensky, is an obstacle to his desired relationship with Mr. Putin. But for Europe, the fate of Ukraine is of strategic importance. If Ukraine collapses, European military and political leaders predict a Russian effort to test NATO in the following few years. If a militarized Russia can be held off — or even beaten back — it may end or retard Mr. Putin's ambitions to upend the post-Cold War order and recreate the Soviet empire. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Forbes
3 minutes ago
- Forbes
How U.S. Aid To Ukraine and Russia Changed From Biden To Trump
On Friday, President Donald Trump traveled to Alaska to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During their summit, they discussed the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. They did not reach an agreement on how the war should end. Absent from the summit were Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well as representatives from the European Union and NATO. This was a noticeable shift in American foreign policy, where the U.S. previously coordinated all discussions on Russia's invasion of Ukraine with its European allies and Ukraine. How have U.S. relations with Ukraine and Russia changed throughout the Russo-Ukraine war? When the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, then-President Joe Biden told Zelenskyy that the United States and its allies would 'support the Ukrainian people as they defend their country.' As the war progressed, Biden promised to 'never walk away from Ukraine.' Biden then took action. From February 2022 to December 2024, the Biden administration provided nearly $200 billion in aid to Ukraine. This ranged from weapons and defense equipment to medical devices, humanitarian assistance, and financial aid. These forms of American assistance, combined with aid from other countries around the world, saw Ukraine successfully force the Russians out of northern and central Ukraine. Additionally, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development worked with Ukrainian officials to help Ukraine reform its government. This work allowed Ukraine to gain EU candidate status. Outside of these efforts, Biden would speak with Zelenskyy on several occasions to discuss Russia's ongoing invasion. The U.S. government would share intelligence with Ukraine to assist Ukrainian forces in their fight against Russia's invasion. Biden would also meet with leaders from Congress to propose new aid packages and other forms of assistance to Ukraine. While the U.S. was slow on some occasions to provide aid to Ukraine, and although there were restrictions on how Ukrainian forces could use American aid, the Biden administration eventually continued to increase aid. Biden also continuously stated that the U.S. would stand with Ukraine 'for as long as it takes.' Finally, he argued that there could not be peace in Ukraine without Ukrainian representation, and that negotiations to end the war could only be conducted on Ukraine's terms. Biden and his administration also worked closely with America's allies and partners to form an international coalition to support Ukraine. Nearly 80 countries from around the world have come together to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine. This foreign assistance has helped Ukraine repel Russia's ongoing invasion. The international coalition has also condemned Russia's invasion. For example, a United Nations resolution adopted by 141 countries demanded that Russia 'immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw' its forces from Ukraine. Additionally, the Russian Federation was suspended from the UN Human Rights Council. Aside from these condemnations at the UN, dozens of countries have worked together to impose stiff penalties on Russia to punish it for its war. For example, the U.S., the United Kingdom, the EU, NATO, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and several other countries have collaborated to impose sanctions on Russian corporations and energy companies. Over 1,000 international companies terminated their operations in Russia. The Russian Federation was banned from organizations such as the Parliamentary Assembly for the Council of Europe, FIFA, and UEFA. Russian business owners and politicians were barred from entering Western countries, and hundreds of billions of dollars of Russian assets were frozen or seized. The work done by Biden and his administration saw the world unite against the Russian Federation as it condemned the invasion of Ukraine. In addition, coordinated sanctions saw the Russian Federation lose billions of dollars. Finally, the Russians sustained significant casualties during the war. This occurred without the loss of a single life of an active duty American servicemember. Although Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, U.S. policies undertaken by Biden and his administration suggest that the U.S. would continue to help Ukraine. American government officials, as well as their counterparts from several countries around the world, also refused to meet with Putin and Russian representatives. This further underlined the globe's condemnation of Russia's war. Now, as of August, the U.S. approach toward Ukraine and Russia has changed. While Biden stated that the U.S. would provide aid to Ukraine 'for as long as it takes,' Trump has taken a different approach. During the 2024 U.S. presidential election campaign, Trump argued that the United States was providing too much aid to Ukraine. He added that Ukraine should have 'given up a little bit' of territory to Russia. Trump continued this stance following the U.S. election and his inauguration in January. During the initial weeks of his new administration, Trump said that it was 'unlikely' that Ukraine would reclaim territory taken by Russia. Additionally, Trump told the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to stop aid shipments to Ukraine. The U.S. also paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Since these events in March, the U.S. has lifted the freeze on aid to Ukraine. As of July, the Trump administration reinstated defense aid shipments to Ukraine. A pause on intelligence sharing has also been lifted. In addition, the U.S. has sold weapons to NATO members, who then sent them to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. While Trump changed his stance on aid to Ukraine, the U.S. has continued to push for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. These attempts have been unsuccessful. Several reports by Reuters and the Kyiv Independent found that the Russian Federation violated ceasefire agreements proposed by the United States despite continued negotiations between U.S. and Russian officials. These meetings from February to August have not resulted in an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A ceasefire has yet to be reached and fully implemented. Trump also make this clear after his summit with Putin in Alaska, where he said that 'there's no deal [to end the war] until there's a deal.' Despite a breakthrough in peace negotiations, Trump and senior officials from his administration have continued to speak to their Russian counterparts. These phone calls and in-person meetings have been conducted without Ukrainian or European representatives. In response, Ukrainian and European officials have expressed concerns, believing that Trump may decide the future of Ukraine and Europe without Ukrainian and European representatives. This policy differs starkly from that of the Biden administration, which I campaigned for in 2020 and met with as part of the Ukrainian-Americans for Biden initiative from 2021 to 2024. In short, the U.S. approach toward Ukraine and Russia during the Russo-Ukraine war. Initially, the U.S. severed its communication with the Russian Federation. The Americans maintained constant dialogue with Europe and Ukraine, and the U.S. was fully committed to sending aid to Ukraine. Now, the U.S. has pushed for an immediate end to the war. There is also uncertainty about how willing the U.S. will be to continue aiding Ukraine while trying to force negotiations with Russia. No one is certain how the Russian invasion of Ukraine will end. But for now, the international community will continue to monitor how U.S. officials will engage with their Ukrainian and Russian counterparts as they look to find a way to end the war. Disclaimer: Mark Temnycky was a volunteer member of the Steering Committee for Ukrainian-Americans for Biden, a network within the Democratic National Committee's Ethnic Coordinating Council. In this capacity, he campaigned for the Biden-Harris ticket during the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In addition, he was invited to discuss U.S.-Ukraine, U.S.-NATO, and U.S.-Russia relations with senior officials from the White House, National Security Council, U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Department of State from November 2021 to March 2024.
