"Kremlin Admits Russia is in 'State of War' in Ukraine"

The Kremlin has acknowledged that Russia is in a "state of war" in Ukraine due to the West's intervention and support of its neighbor, marking a shift from its previous designation of the conflict as a "special military operation." This change in language allows Russian authorities to make decisions associated with a war and demand internal mobilization. Despite this acknowledgment, Russia still legally qualifies its actions in Ukraine as a "special military operation" domestically, while continuing to occupy almost a fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, and facing ongoing conflict with Kyiv over the annexation of regions.