Kremlin says Russia 'in a state of war' in Ukraine for first time
Russia declares "state of war" in Ukraine, changing language of conflict.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
The Kremlin has declared that it is now in a “state of war” in Ukraine, shifting from referring to the conflict as a “special military operation.” This change in language comes as Russia prohibits media outlets from using the term “war” and prosecutes individuals for describing Russia’s military actions as such. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that while the operation was initially classified as special, it has effectively transitioned into a war, especially with Western involvement on Ukraine’s side. President Vladimir Putin has previously characterized the situation as a “hybrid war” instigated by the West but primarily labeled it a “special military operation.” Russia has enacted strict military censorship laws to penalize critics disseminating what they deem as “false information” or discrediting the armed forces, resulting in over 900 criminal cases against anti-conflict advocates.