NYT
Whatever You Do in Russia, Don’t Talk About the War
Monday, June 29, 2026
Russia's government has not officially designated civil defense shelters or installed blast sirens in most civilian areas, despite military operations occurring within Russian territory. Russian officials have used indirect language when discussing the conflict, referring to it as a "special military operation" rather than a war. Ukrainian forces have conducted strikes within Russian borders. Some analysts attribute the government's approach to concerns about public perception, though officials have not explicitly stated their reasons for the communication strategy.
Original reporting: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/world/europe/russia-ukraine-rhetoric.html