The day after President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia escalated tensions with the West, many Russians awoke on Friday feeling a heightened anxiety regarding the possibility of nuclear war. In contrast, Russia's tightly controlled news media and pro-government social media channels displayed only enthusiastic reactions to the Russian leader’s aggressive rhetoric.
Mr. Putin announced on Thursday that Russia had launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine, citing Kyiv's use of U.S. and British missiles against Russian targets earlier that week. He asserted that Russia retains the right to strike countries that permit their weapons to be used against Russian facilities.
In the West, the launch of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile and Mr. Putin’s statements were interpreted as threats against Ukraine and its allies, leading to widespread condemnation and concerns about escalation. Conversely, Russian media portrayed these developments as a demonstration of the Kremlin's resolve in upholding its red lines, suggesting that this could involve the potential use of nuclear weapons.
Denis Volkov, director of the Levada Center, noted a shift in the elite consensus in Russia, with discussions about nuclear capabilities becoming more open. He indicated that the Russian populace has largely grown desensitized to the Kremlin's aggressive posturing since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, though there are signs that more Russians accept and support Mr. Putin's hardline stance.
While a growing segment of the population favors initiating peace talks, polls indicate a slight increase in those who find the use of nuclear weapons acceptable. Although nearly half of those surveyed still deem such use “unacceptable,” the proportion considering it acceptable has risen to 34 percent, according to Mr. Volkov.
Despite Mr. Putin’s address, there were no visible public displays of anxiety in Russia; however, the ruble continued to decline, reaching its lowest value against the dollar since March 2022. The potential for conflict expansion and nuclear weapon use appears to resonate with the pervasive apathy many Russians have felt since the invasion began.
Media personality Ksenia A. Sobchak humorously commented on Telegram, questioning the timing of nuclear threats in light of upcoming holidays. State-owned television channel Rossiya-1 presented Mr. Putin’s missile announcement with enthusiasm, showcasing graphics that illustrated the missile's range and capabilities, claiming it could reach all European capitals.
Russian state media framed Mr. Putin’s remarks as a public relations success, highlighting global media coverage of his speech. Reports indicated that the missile launch had trended globally on social media, and Kremlin-aligned figures emphasized that the speech was intended to intimidate the West into withdrawing support for Ukraine.
In various social media discussions, Russians expressed mixed reactions to Mr. Putin’s speech, with some condemning the escalation and others expressing support for military actions. In cities like Rostov-on-Don and Kursk, residents shared sentiments of frustration regarding the government's handling of the conflict and the lack of evacuation measures in the face of imminent threats.
Supporters of the war praised Mr. Putin for raising the stakes against the West, with pro-Kremlin bloggers circulating memes depicting him as an action hero. Some commentators criticized the Kremlin for notifying the U.S. ahead of the missile launch, suggesting that such caution undermines the aggressive stance Russia is trying to project.