Russian hardliners pressure Putin to scale up war and consider tactical nukes

A group of nationalist Russian hardliners, angered by recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow, St. Petersburg and Crimea and by what they see as a broken U.S. promise to mediate, are urging President Vladimir Putin to abandon diplomatic talks and intensify the conflict in Ukraine. They demand measures ranging from a full national mobilisation and the bombing of Kyiv’s government districts to the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons. Prominent voices such as Konstantin Malofeyev have questioned, “What else must happen for us to start fighting seriously? War means victory at any cost,” and have called for the destruction of Ukrainian cities.

Analysts note that the hardliners’ rhetoric reflects growing Russian anxiety about the reach of Ukrainian drone attacks and could complicate Kremlin decision‑making. While three senior officials have publicly defended the ongoing negotiations with the United States, the Kremlin has so far resisted the calls to scrap diplomacy. Sources close to the Kremlin say Putin can tolerate the pressure but remains cautious about moving toward a nuclear‑escalation path.