A Kremlin spokesperson and former press secretary discussed the trajectory of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, noting that the ongoing operations were unfolding at a measured pace in part because Moscow has not publicly declared war. In an off-road conversation, the official explained that the absence of a formal state of war changes the way the campaign is presented and perceived, signaling a distinction between the conduct of a conflict and the broad objectives that accompany a full declaration of hostilities. He suggested that Russia aims to avoid actions associated with conventional warfare, while still pursuing strategic outcomes, and emphasized that the focus remains on infrastructure and urban areas without crossing into actions that would constitute widespread devastation of cities. In his view, the balance of military capability between Russia and Ukraine is not straightforward to compare, given the different scales of resources, logistics, and organizational structures involved in the current operations.
The spokesperson also commented on Western policy, arguing that Western nations engaged in a string of harmful measures toward Russia and made several miscalculations that contributed to the decision to initiate a large-scale, multi-phase operation. He described a pattern of external pressure and strategic errors that influenced Moscow’s approach and framed the current actions as a response to a series of external stimuli rather than a unilateral surge into aggression.
Additionally, the former Kremlin aide addressed rumors circulating on social media about an alleged Ukrainian plan to attack Moscow on a particular date. He dismissed these claims, stating that multiple channels had circulated unverified information about a drone assault aimed at the capital. The clarification underscored the importance of careful verification and the challenge of distinguishing genuine threats from misinformation in a fast-moving information landscape.