Kremlin spokesman Peskov calls invasion of Ukraine “war”

For two years, the Kremlin officially called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “special military operation.” Now spokesman Peskov used the word “war” and justified it with Western interference.

More than two years after the start of his brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has renounced the trivializing term “special military operation.”

In an interview with the Russian weekly Argumenty i Fakty, Peskov said: “We are in a state of war. Yes, it started as a special military operation, but as soon as the clique arose, when the collective West became involved on Ukraine’s side, that was it it’s a war for us.” He is convinced of this – “and everyone has to understand this in order to mobilize themselves personally,” added Peskov.

“Need to completely liberate new areas”

Russia cannot allow a state to exist on its borders that has shown itself ready to use any method to take control of Crimea, the Kremlin spokesman added. Russia must completely liberate its new territories to ensure the safety of the people there.

At a press conference, Peskov later made it clear that the fighting was still legally a “special operation,” but in fact it was a war.

Four regions and Crimea under Russian control

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the major attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. He spoke of a “special military operation”. The Russian military then occupied parts of the sovereign neighboring country, but was unable to take the capital Kiev as planned. Later, with the help of Western arms supplies, the Ukrainian troops managed to drive the occupying troops back from some parts of the country.

But Russia still occupies almost a fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. It is the four regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the east and south of Ukraine that Russian troops at least partially control and that were annexed in September 2022.

The word “war” is often punished with penalties in Russia

Putin recently accused the West of waging a “hybrid war” against Moscow. So far, however, he has largely stuck to describing the conflict in Ukraine as a “special operation.” Criticism of the Russian army’s deployment in Ukraine and the use of the word “war” in this context are punishable by fines and prison sentences in Russia.

Just a few days ago, Putin was confirmed for a fifth term in office in the presidential election, in which neither opposition candidates nor independent election observers were allowed. Observers suspect that a new partial mobilization could begin in Russia after the election.