Since the start of the war… Russia declares for the first time a state of war in Ukraine

Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian scab in February 2022, the Kremlin has imposed a ban on the use of the term “war,” punishing anyone who used it with fines and prison sentences.

But in a surprise development, the Kremlin acknowledged for the first time on Friday that the country is in a “state of war”.

Analysts linked Russia’s change in its war classification to military developments on the ground, as well as to the results of the Russian elections won by President Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin has finally admitted that Russia is in a “state of war” in Ukraine, after it continued to use the phrase “special military operation” to describe the attack on its neighbor more than two years ago.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia is “at war” in Ukraine, acknowledging the military escalation and Western intervention.

Peskov spoke to a Russian newspaper close to the Kremlin and said, “We’re at war… Yes, at first it was a private military operation, but once the West became heavily involved alongside Ukraine, we were at war”.

Analyzes indicate that Russia’s change in describing the situation to a “state of war” means an escalation in the conflict and a move toward more extreme military options.

Reports show that Russia intends to use all types of weapons, including limited nuclear weapons, in the face of ongoing military challenges and attacks.

Analysts believe that Russia’s shift from a special military operation to a state of war comes as part of a strategy to justify escalation and make victory reassuring, especially after Putin’s re-election with a vote of more than 87%.