Russian nationalist hardliners are urging President Vladimir Putin to abandon U.S.-mediated diplomacy and intensify the war in Ukraine following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russia.

Axar.az reports, citing Reuters, that hardliners demand strikes on Kyiv’s leadership, attacks on European drone production sites and even consideration of tactical nuclear weapons.

Nationalist businessman Konstantin Malofeyev criticized Russia’s response after a Ukrainian strike caused a fire at a Moscow oil refinery.

“What else needs to happen before we start fighting for real? War means victory at any cost. The Ukrainians are at war, so they're fighting with everything they've got.”

He also questioned why Russia had not used nuclear weapons.

“Why are we not using nuclear weapons, which our forebears developed and stockpiled with the full might of the nation precisely for this purpose?”

Other nationalist commentators have called for Moscow to end peace talks and pursue a more aggressive strategy. Blogger Yuri Baranchik claimed Ukrainian attacks were enabled by Washington.

“The ​start of systematic air strikes on Moscow by the (Ukrainian) junta would have been impossible without the go-ahead from Washington.”

The Kremlin has so far resisted calls for the most extreme measures and has kept diplomatic channels open, while Putin has said Russia remains on course to achieve its objectives in Ukraine.

“Those who want to restore normal relations with us, to stop this endless drive for a strategic defeat of Russia, are on the rise,” Putin said. “It'll all work out in the end.”