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Kremlin Suddenly Started Calling Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine a “War.” Here’s What It Means
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
The Kremlin appears to be changing how it publicly describes its invasion of Ukraine, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov increasingly referring to it as a “full-scale war” instead of the "special military operation" terminology Moscow has consistently used since 2022.
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According to Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) under the National Security and Defense Council, the shift in rhetoric could be part of a broader effort to prepare Russian society for a possible new wave of mobilization and additional domestic restrictions later this year.
Kovalenko said Peskov has repeatedly emphasized that “everything started as a special military operation but turned into a war,” arguing that the wording is a deliberate signal rather than a change in vocabulary.
“Peskov has consistently started referring to it as a full-scale war instead of a 'special military operation.' He emphasizes that 'everything started as a special military operation but turned into a war.' This is not just a turn of phrase. It is a deliberate information campaign to prepare the Russian population for a mobilization that Russia is considering for the autumn. It is also preparing people for the restrictions that would accompany it, including a possible ban on leaving the country,” Kovalenko wrote on Telegram.
He added that Russians seeking to avoid mobilization should leave the country now. “Russians should begin leaving the country now because a Russian soldier survives only 15 to 30 minutes on the front line.”
The CCD’s assessment comes amid continued reports that Moscow may be seeking additional ways to replenish its armed forces. Declining numbers of volunteer recruits have prompted the Kremlin to consider several options, including a new mobilization campaign after Russia’s parliamentary elections this autumn.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said Russia is preparing another mobilization wave involving “at least tens of thousands” of personnel. According to the president, the issue was discussed during a defense briefing with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov.
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