Russian nationalist figures are intensifying pressure on President Vladimir Putin to escalate the war in Ukraine, with some publicly urging the Kremlin to consider using tactical nuclear weapons after a series of Ukrainian strikes reached deep into Russian territory and damaged critical energy infrastructure.
The calls have gained momentum as Ukraine expands its long-range capabilities, targeting sites in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea and other strategic locations. Reuters reported that while Russian hardliners have previously advocated harsher measures-including proposals to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky-they are now renewing demands for far more dramatic military action.
Among the most outspoken voices is nationalist businessman Konstantin Malofeyev, who questioned why Russia has not employed its nuclear arsenal. "War means victory at any cost," Malofeyev said. "Why are we not using nuclear weapons, which our forebears developed and stockpiled with the full might of the nation precisely for this purpose?"
The renewed debate follows Ukraine's recent attacks on Russia's energy sector. Reuters separately reported that repairs to the Kapotnya oil refinery near Moscow-the region's largest fuel supplier-are expected to take at least six months after it was struck twice this month. The facility processed approximately 11.6 million metric tons of crude oil in 2024 and is located roughly 10 miles from the Kremlin.
Kyiv has described the refinery strike as retaliation for Russian attacks that damaged a historic monastery in Ukraine, an incident that drew international condemnation. Ukrainian officials have increasingly argued that targeting Russia's energy infrastructure weakens Moscow's military logistics and its ability to sustain combat operations.
According to Reuters, people familiar with Kremlin thinking said Putin has so far tolerated increasingly aggressive rhetoric from nationalist figures without embracing their recommendations. The report added that such public demands can strengthen anti-negotiation sentiment inside Russia even as Moscow formally remains engaged in diplomatic contacts that have produced little progress in recent months.
Russia has nevertheless signaled that conventional military operations will intensify. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defended Moscow's expanding campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure, saying, "It is no coincidence that the president announced some time ago, after yet another Kyiv terrorist attack, that we will now conduct massive group strikes on a regular basis against targets whose condition directly affects the combat readiness of the Ukrainian Armed Forces."
At the same time, the effects of Ukraine's strikes are increasingly being felt inside Russia. According to the Vedomosti newspaper, officials recently discussed the possibility of importing fuel to ease supply shortages after repeated attacks disrupted domestic refining capacity. The proposal reportedly emerged during a government meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
