A Kremlin spokesman said Russia had entered a “state of war” for the first time since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.
Since the war began in February 2022, Russia has described the war as a “special military operation.” The Kremlin even banned the media from using words like “war” and “invasion.”
“We are in a state of war,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with a pro-Kremlin Russian newspaper on Friday. “Yes, it started as a special military operation, but once… The West has collectively become a player on the Ukrainian side, and for us it has turned into a war.”
He later explained to reporters in detail: “Legally speaking, [legally] This is a special military operation.But actually [in reality] It has turned into a war. “
President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials have gradually begun using the word “war” but have mainly referred to the conflict as a “special military operation.”
Dr Martin Smith, senior lecturer in defense and international affairs, said: “What struck me was the deliberate ambiguity: when he claimed ‘war’ was the correct name in some respects, in other respects it was still a ‘special Military Operations’ Time’ at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
“Merely calling the actions in Ukraine a ‘war’ means that the special military operation has failed and needs to be significantly intensified.”
Some are predicting a new wave of mobilization in Russia following last weekend’s sham election, but Dr Smith said Putin late last year ruled out making such an unpopular move, claiming it was not an unpopular move. A welcome move, so he is not expected to make such an announcement anytime soon. unnecessary.
However, Dr. Marina Miron, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, believes that this statement is a signal aimed at “psychologically preparing the Russian public for the coming mobilization.” She believes that since Trump The president has initiated this mobilization, then this mobilization will happen. Putin has “carte blanche” after landslide vote.
“Before this, we heard [Defence Minister Sergei] Shoigu hopes to mobilize about 200,000 people to complete the established military expansion task. We also heard Putin talking about creating a “sanitarnaya zone” that would be like a buffer zone and thereby expand the scope of Ukraine’s targets,” she said.
But why has military activity changed 25 months later? Dr Smith believed it was a “reaction” to French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments last month about the possibility of deploying Western troops to fight in Ukraine, which sparked heated debate.
“I view Mr. Peskov’s statement as the Russian government’s response to Macron: to intensify its own rhetoric as a warning and to discourage any such Western escalation, rather than opening the door for Russia to significantly intensify its own efforts in the short term.”
Macron stood by his remarks and said sending troops to Ukraine “cannot be ruled out”, although other Nato members rejected the idea and French officials played down his remarks.
The speaker of Russia’s lower house warned Macron not to send troops to Ukraine, saying they would meet the same fate as Napoleon’s troops, after the French leader spoke in support of Kiev at a European summit.
Dr Miron said observers should be cautious in interpreting Mr Peskov’s statement. “First of all, we have to understand that this is a factual statement at this time, not a legal statement,” she noted.
She added: “Taking into account the international laws of war, a legal declaration of war would have far more profound consequences for the Russian people and the legal provisions in the international arena.”
Peskov’s comments about Russia being at war came after Russia launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine overnight, targeting energy infrastructure and knocking out power to a million people on Friday.
Follow us on Google news ,Twitter , and Join Whatsapp Group of thelocalreport.in
