Nationalists demand Putin escalate after Ukraine hits Russia

Kremlin hawks are urging Vladimir Putin to scale back diplomacy and intensify the war after Ukrainian drone strikes hit Moscow, St Petersburg and Crimea.

The push from nationalist and hardline voices has flared again in late June, as anger rises over attacks inside Russia and frustration with U.S. involvement in efforts to end the conflict. Analysts say the sharper tone reflects anxiety about Russia’s ability to protect a vast territory while continuing a war that began with Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Drone strikes sharpen demands for escalation

Ukraine’s long-range drone campaign this month has included strikes that Russia says reached Moscow and St Petersburg, as well as targets in Crimea. Russian authorities have also attributed two deadly incidents involving passenger buses to Ukrainian attacks.

Those events have intensified calls from hardliners who argue that the current approach is failing to deter Ukraine and is exposing vulnerabilities at home. The renewed pressure comes amid wider public and elite attention to how drone warfare is changing the battlefield and the home front simultaneously.

Konstantin Malofeyev, a nationalist businessman, voiced a common hardline argument after a Ukrainian strike last week sparked a fire at a Moscow oil refinery. He questioned what further events would be required before Russia fights “for real,” framing victory as the overriding goal.

Long-standing hawkish agenda resurfaces

Hardline demands are not new in Russia’s political ecosystem, where nationalist commentators and influential figures have repeatedly urged more extreme measures. Past proposals from such voices have included broader mobilisation and expanded targeting inside Ukraine.

Some nationalist rhetoric has explicitly promoted attacks on the Ukrainian leadership and strikes on facilities in Europe believed to be linked to drone production. In the most escalatory suggestions, a minority of hawks have publicly raised the idea of using tactical nuclear weapons.

While such statements do not necessarily indicate official policy, their recurrence highlights the pressure points around the Kremlin: sustaining the campaign in Ukraine, maintaining domestic confidence, and demonstrating that Russia can absorb and respond to attacks deep in its territory.

Strategic dilemma: protect territory while pursuing aims

Analysts say the hardening tone is partly driven by unease over the range and effectiveness of Ukrainian drones. Unlike front-line engagements, deep strikes can create a perception of insecurity far from the battlefield and force difficult resource trade-offs for air defence.

Russia’s scale adds complexity: defending major cities, industrial sites, transport networks and energy infrastructure across time zones requires layered capabilities and rapid coordination. At the same time, Moscow continues to pursue its military objectives in Ukraine, creating competing demands for equipment, personnel and decision-making focus.

Hardliners also appear to be reacting to a belief that U.S.-linked diplomacy has not produced an end to the war on terms they view as acceptable. That frustration is feeding arguments that negotiations are either futile or premature and that only intensified pressure can change the trajectory.

The immediate implication is a louder domestic debate over escalation options and the balance between deterrence and restraint. What happens next will be shaped by whether additional drone attacks occur, how damaging they are, and what countermeasures Russia chooses to prioritise in response.