{"id":1629,"date":"2026-06-22T20:17:46","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T00:17:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jakony.com\/frontpage\/?p=1629"},"modified":"2026-06-22T20:17:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T00:17:46","slug":"russian-pundits-call-for-nuclear-strikes-on-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jakony.com\/frontpage\/video\/russian-pundits-call-for-nuclear-strikes-on-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian Pundits Call for Nuclear Strikes on Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"

(MOSCOW)<\/span><\/strong> – Russian state television pundits have called for nuclear strikes against Ukraine and the targeting of civilian infrastructure in Ukrainian cities in response to drone attacks on Moscow, while also demanding a new national air defence system.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the programme “One’s Own Truth,” host Roman Babayan and a panel of experts discussed the most massive drone strike on Moscow and the surrounding region in two years, according to the Russian Defence Ministry. <\/span><\/p>\n

Writer Nikolai Starikov argued that Russia needed a new type of national air defence system, noting that the existing Soviet era system was designed for different threats and required urgent modernisation. He said the entire European part of Russia needed to be covered, including site specific protection for facilities such as the Moscow oil refinery.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr Babayan suggested that Russia should consider eliminating those who ordered the strikes, rather than merely defending against them. Journalist Michael Bohm argued that the primary goal of Ukrainian attacks was information warfare and psychological impact on Russian citizens. He noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had stated that strikes were effective and then proposed negotiations, suggesting this pattern was designed to create emotional pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Military expert Yury Knutov said the only solution was to advance to the Polish border, dismissing half measures. He quoted Mr Zelensky’s statement that Ukraine must make the Russian population demand peace, describing this as a declaration of war on Russian civilians. He argued that Russia was now engaged in a “patriotic war” requiring a decisive response.<\/span><\/p>\n

Former politician Sergey Stankevich advocated for the use of nuclear weapons, suggesting that nuclear munitions should be used to breach Ukrainian defences. He argued that Russia could not afford to wait until 2030, when French, British and American nuclear warheads might arrive. Mr Bohm echoed calls to return to the original goal of “denazification” and suggested that a pro-Russian Ukraine would eventually buy Russian weapons.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr Babayan initially argued against nuclear strikes, proposing instead that Russia should demonstrate “reasonable toughness” by targeting infrastructure such as sewage treatment plants in Kharkiv and Kyiv. He claimed this would create despair among the Ukrainian population and undermine their will to continue fighting. However, he also warned that if Russia escalated to that level, it should be prepared for nuclear war.<\/span><\/p>\n

Research fellow Gevorg Mirzayan criticised Russian leadership for failing to explain to the public why it was not launching more dramatic strikes. He compared the Russian population to children demanding action, stating that when no response came, people turned to Ukrainian propaganda for explanations. He argued that Russian leadership needed either to strike decisively or explain its inaction, warning that without such communication, the public would lose confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

The panellists agreed that Ukraine had mastered the art of symbolism and information operations, while Russia had failed to understand their importance even after years of war. They concluded that Russia needed to either escalate dramatically or provide clear explanations for its restraint, with Mr Stankevich ultimately advocating for nuclear options.<\/span><\/p>\n