---
title: "“If We Need to Strike, We Will Strike”: Russian State Duma Deputy Calls for Use of Tactical Nuclear Weapons Against Ukraine"
description: "Russian State Duma deputy Alexey Zhuravlyov publicly called for the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine, stating that “there should be no such discussion.” The statement came against the backdrop of reports on escalation."
date: 2026-08-31T01:28:07.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zhuravlev-calls-for-tactical-nuclear-weapons-against-ukraine
tags: [russia, ukraine, nuclear-weapons, duma, zhuravlev, escalation]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# “If We Need to Strike, We Will Strike”: Russian State Duma Deputy Calls for Use of Tactical Nuclear Weapons Against Ukraine

![Man in camouflage uniform speaking at microphones during a public address, gesturing against a red banner — illustration of a statement on tactical nuclear weapons](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/31/zhuravlev-prizval-primenit-yadernoe-oruzhie-protiv-ukrainy/zhuravlev-prizval-primenit-yadernoe-oruzhie-protiv-ukrainy-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Russian State Duma deputy Alexey Zhuravlyov stated that Russia is “obligated” to use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine if necessary and that “there should be no such discussion.”
- The statement came against the backdrop of Bloomberg reports that Putin is allegedly considering tactical nuclear weapons as a last resort, while no signs of actual preparation are being detected and China is opposed.
- Zhuravlyov’s call is not an isolated one: earlier, similar statements about massive strikes on Ukrainian cities were made by Pyotr Tolstoy, Andrey Gurulev, and Andrey Kolesnik.

Public calls for the use of nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine have once again been voiced in the Russian State Duma. This time, a sharp statement was made by Russian State Duma deputy and leader of the “Rodina” party, Alexey Zhuravlyov, who regularly appears on Russian propaganda channels’ talk shows. RBK-Ukraine reports this, citing The Moscow Times. His remarks came against the backdrop of reports about possible further steps by the Kremlin in escalating the conflict.

### The essence of the statement: “there should be no such discussion”

According to Zhuravlyov, Russia allegedly should deliver a strike that would force Ukraine to capitulate, and in Moscow there should be no discussion at all about the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons against Kyiv. “There are discussions: can we use tactical nuclear weapons (against Ukraine – ed.), can we not. Listen, there should not even be such a discussion! If necessary, we are obliged to use it… If we need to strike, we will strike. And this is not up for debate,” the deputy declared, effectively calling for the unalternative use of a nuclear deterrent instrument.

### Who is Alexey Zhuravlyov

Zhuravlyov has long been known as one of the most prominent “talk-show” deputies, regularly appearing on air in Russian propaganda programs. He publicly takes pride in being the “poorest deputy in the Russian Federation.” However, according to the outlet “Vёрstka,” his real fortune is apparently hidden: a significant part of his assets, including elite real estate and cars, is allegedly registered in the name of a “secret wife,” with whom the deputy has two children. This contrast between his public image and the actual state of affairs regularly becomes a subject of criticism.

### The context of escalation and the Kremlin’s position

Zhuravlyov’s statement came against the backdrop of reports about possible further steps by the Kremlin in the war against Ukraine. Earlier, sources close to the Russian leadership told Bloomberg that Russian President Vladimir Putin is allegedly preparing an escalation and may be considering tactical nuclear weapons as a last resort to avoid defeat in the war. At the same time, as the outlet noted, no signs of actual preparation for the use of nuclear weapons are being detected, and Russia’s partners, including China, are reportedly opposed to such a step, according to Bloomberg.

### Not the first call in the “assembly of propagandist deputies”

Zhuravlyov’s voice calling for devastating strikes on Ukraine and its civilians is far from the first in a series of public statements by Russian deputies. Earlier, Russian State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy publicly called to “openly” strike Ukrainian cities to demoralize the population and force Ukrainians to capitulate. Deputy and General Andrey Gurulev called to “strike the enemy mercilessly, without worrying,” while Russian Senator Andrey Kolesnik spoke of the need to “keep delivering strikes so that they cannot even lift their heads.” Thus, the call for a nuclear strike fits into a broader escalation rhetoric supported by certain figures in the Russian parliament.

### Contradictory data

The available sources contain inconsistencies that must be honestly reflected. First, according to Bloomberg, on the one hand, it is reported that Putin is allegedly considering tactical nuclear weapons as a last resort, while on the other, the outlet directly states that there are no signs of preparation for their use, and that China and other Russian partners are opposed to such a step. In other words, the version of a prepared nuclear escalation remains at the level of source reports, not a confirmed fact. Second, Zhuravlyov’s public image as the “poorest deputy in the Russian Federation” contradicts the data from the outlet “Vёрstka” about hidden assets registered in the name of his “secret wife.” Both versions are presented in open sources, and a final conclusion on them requires additional verification.

Either way, the public call by a sitting Russian State Duma deputy to use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine becomes a new element of escalation rhetoric and indicates that in Russian political discourse nuclear weapons are gradually being normalized as a subject of public calls, rather than remaining solely a closed instrument of deterrence.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Russian State Duma calls to strike Ukraine with a “nuclear device”](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/derzhdumi-rf-zaklikali-vdariti-ukrayini-yaderkoyu-1788137226.html) - Подтверждает факт публичного призыва депутата Госдумы РФ к применению тактического ядерного оружия против Украины и приводит его прямую цитату.
- [“We are obliged to use tactical nuclear weapons”: Alexey Zhuravlyov calls to force the enemy to ...](https://bloknot.ru/obshhestvo/my-obyazany-primenit-takticheskoe-yadernoe-oruzhie-aleksej-zhuravlyov-prizval-prinudit-vraga-k-kapitulyatsii-1536238.html) - Идентифицирует спикера как Алексея Журавлева и фиксирует формулировку об «обязанности» применения тактического ядерного оружия.
- [Russian State Duma calls for the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine](https://minval.az/news/124550880) - Независимое подтверждение факта заявления в Госдуме РФ о применении ядерного оружия против Украины.
- [“This is not up for debate”: State Duma deputy calls for not fearing a tactical nuclear strike on Ukraine ...](https://ukraina.ru/20260830/eto-ne-obsuzhdaetsya-deputat-gosdumy-prizval-ne-boyatsya-takticheskogo-yadernogo-udara-po-ukraine-1082906601.html) - Подтверждает цитату «это не обсуждается» и дату публикации (30.08.2026), согласующуюся с актуальной хронологией.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Who called for the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine?
**A:** The statement was made by Russian State Duma deputy and leader of the “Rodina” party, Alexey Zhuravlyov, who declared that Russia is “obligated” to use tactical nuclear weapons if necessary and that “there should be no such discussion.”

### Q: Is it confirmed that Russia is preparing a nuclear strike?
**A:** No. According to Bloomberg, no signs of actual preparation for the use of nuclear weapons are being detected, and Russia’s partners, including China, are reportedly opposed to such a step. Reports that Putin is allegedly considering tactical nuclear weapons as a last resort remain at the level of source statements.

### Q: Is this an isolated call in the State Duma?
**A:** No. Earlier, similar public calls for massive strikes on Ukrainian cities and the population were made by State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy, deputy and General Andrey Gurulev, and Senator Andrey Kolesnik.