The Kremlin's shift from the term 'special military operation,' used for years to describe military activities in Ukraine, to the term 'war' has drawn wide attention in German media. Newspapers suggested that this change is not merely a linguistic correction but a deliberate transformation in Russia's domestic politics and international messaging.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a statement a few days ago that due to Western countries' intervention and support for Ukraine, 'the special military operation has turned into a real war.' This was considered the first time Moscow openly used the word 'war' to describe the conflict.
German Press Comments
The German newspaper Taz, in its report 'Suddenly War,' recalled that those who previously uttered the word 'war' in Russia were fined or imprisoned. The paper wrote that the terminology change is not a simple linguistic adjustment but carries messages for the Russian public and for what Moscow calls the 'degenerate West.' According to Taz, this shift reinforces the impression that the illusion that the war does not affect them has ended and that a new wave of mobilization is beginning.
The newspaper Merkur described Peskov's choice of this definition as a deliberate shift in Russian propaganda discourse. The paper noted that the Kremlin aims to accustom the Russian people to the possibility of a longer war and to legitimize a potential new wave of mobilization. Merkur stressed that the use of the word 'war' goes beyond the linguistic dimension, as a formal declaration of war could grant the Kremlin broad powers in terms of mobilization. Under Russian law, a declaration of war could expand the scope of conscription, call up reserve forces, and redirect civilian industry to military production.
Strategic Goals and International Context
Switzerland's Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) suggested that this change was not spontaneous but part of Russia's efforts to reshape its official war narrative. NZZ claimed that Moscow is trying to influence US President Donald Trump with this move and, especially ahead of NATO's summit in Ankara, to deepen divisions within the alliance. The paper also pointed out that laws punishing Russian citizens for using this definition remain in force.
Citing researchers from the Carnegie Russia and Eurasia Center, Merkur reported that the Kremlin used the term 'special military operation' to conceal the true face of the war and simultaneously prepare Russian society for a long-term military situation. It noted that Moscow continues to promote the narrative that the responsible party for the escalation is not itself but 'Western aggression.'
