Part 8/10:
The official Russian government response downplayed the severity of the attack, attempting to project an image of confidence. Conversely, influential voices within the Russian military blogging community reacted with outrage, drawing historical parallels to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and calling for a severe counter-response.
Though the nuclear doctrine traditionally asserts that attacks on strategic assets could justify a nuclear offensive, such escalations seem improbable following the current attack. Ukrainian analysts noted that the assault was executed with precision to avoid striking the most modern, nuclear-capable bombers, indicating a strategic choice aimed at limiting the potential for escalation.