Russia is facing growing calls for retaliation after a series of stunning Ukrainian drone strikes targeted multiple strategic airbases deep within its territory, damaging valuable military aircraft and rattling the Kremlin’s sense of security. While official Moscow has so far kept quiet, awaiting the results of a formal investigation, outrage and nuclear saber-rattling have erupted across Russian state media and social platforms.
Nuclear Threats Resurface
Prominent pro-Kremlin commentators and bloggers have urged President Vladimir Putin to consider nuclear retaliation, with the influential “Two Majors” Telegram channel declaring, “This is not just a pretext but a reason to launch nuclear strikes on Ukraine.” State TV host Vladimir Solovyov went further, calling for strikes on Ukraine’s presidential office and beyond.
At least one political analyst, Sergei Markov, has cautioned against escalating to nuclear weapons, warning that such a move would isolate Russia internationally and risk catastrophic consequences. Still, some argue that Ukraine’s attacks on Russian strategic bombers may be seen as crossing Moscow’s so-called “nuclear threshold,” especially after the Kremlin’s recent update to its nuclear doctrine.
Ukraine’s Expanding Operations
The drone attacks reportedly hit four airbases thousands of miles from the Ukrainian border, with satellite images showing destroyed and damaged aircraft in Russia’s Irkutsk region. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has also claimed responsibility for a new attack on the strategic Kerch bridge linking Russia to Crimea—marking the third strike on the vital supply line.
The strikes come amid a broader Ukrainian campaign, including the high-profile capture of Russia’s Kursk region last year and ongoing drone and missile attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and airports. These operations, increasingly using Western-supplied weaponry with fewer restrictions, have added to Russia’s sense of vulnerability.
Kremlin’s Dilemma
Despite fiery calls for nuclear action, most analysts believe the threshold for such a response remains extremely high. “People talk about potential use of nuclear weapons and so on. I don’t think this is on the table,” said Vladimir Milov, a former Russian deputy energy minister. He expects more “barbaric” conventional strikes on Ukrainian cities instead, noting that Moscow lacks the military personnel for a large-scale ground offensive.
Any use of nuclear arms would likely shatter relations with key partners such as China and India, invite massive global backlash, and further isolate Russia diplomatically and economically.
Rising Stakes
The Kremlin, humiliated by repeated Ukrainian successes, is under increasing pressure to “restore deterrence.” While nuclear threats are a staple of Russian state messaging, recent developments—including direct hits on strategic assets far from the frontlines—raise the risk that the rhetoric could be taken more seriously, even if actual escalation remains unlikely.
As Ukraine and its allies celebrate the operational success, observers warn that provoking a wounded and cornered Russia carries unpredictable and potentially grave consequences.
Glide News will continue monitoring developments on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and provide timely analysis as the situation unfolds.
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