Kremlin admits Russia 'de facto' at war, calls Ukraine 'occupying force'
In an unexpected admission, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on March 22 that Russia is in a "state of war" in an interview with the Russian state-owned media outlet Arguments and Facts.
Peskov later clarified his words, saying that "de jure" it remained a "military operation," but "de facto" had become a #war.
Russia refuses to refer to its war against Ukraine as a war, referring to it instead as a "special military operation" for #propaganda purposes and to downplay its actions for both domestic and international audiences. Russia's choice of wording plays a key part in the framing of its full-scale war.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later clarified his words, saying that "de jure" it remained a "military operation," but "de facto" had become a war.
