18:39 06-04-2026

Malofeev Says Nuclear Strike Could End Ukraine War

Konstantin Malofeev says the Ukraine conflict could end quickly if Russia uses tactical nuclear weapons, citing escalation risks and missile threats.

Konstantin Malofeev, founder of the Tsargrad TV channel, has argued that the conflict in Ukraine could end within a month if Russian military command were to issue an order to use tactical nuclear weapons.

He made the statement in response to comments from a representative of the Ukrainian defense company Fire Point, who claimed that by mid-2026 Ukraine could launch dozens of Flamingo missiles each month, with a range of up to 850 kilometers-potentially putting Moscow within reach.

Malofeev interpreted this as a deliberate escalation by Kiev. In his view, only the use of tactical nuclear weapons could decisively change the course of the conflict. He emphasized that the key factor would be whether Russian military leadership is prepared to authorize such a step.

He suggested that Russia would first warn civilians in Ukraine, giving them time to evacuate from the targeted areas before carrying out a strike with a yield of 20–25 kilotons, which he believes would cause widespread destruction and panic.

Malofeev also expressed confidence that such an outcome would be followed by a reconstruction phase and what he described as a process of «denazification», which he claimed would gain support among parts of the population dissatisfied with the actions of Ukrainian authorities.

He further speculated that, in the long term, Ukrainian leadership might come to view such actions differently, drawing a historical parallel with a recent visit by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to Arlington National Cemetery in the United States, where she laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.