The Kremlin has recognised that Russia is in a state of war

The Russian Federation is in a state of war allegedly because the West supports Ukraine. Putin's press secretary Dmitriy Peskov said this on 22 March for RossSmedia.

According to Peskov, "Russia cannot allow the existence on its borders of a state that has a documented intention to use any methods to take Crimea away from it, not to mention the territory of new regions."

We are in a state of war. Yes, it started out as a special military operation, but as soon as that bunch formed there, when the collective West became a participant in this on the side of Ukraine, it has already become a war for us. I am convinced of that. And everyone should understand this, for their internal mobilisation," Peskov said.

According to him, Russia "has four new constituent entities of the federation" and now the main thing for it is "to ensure the security of people in these constituent entities" and "to liberate the territory of these entities, which is now de facto occupied by the Kiev regime".