On June 26, the Russian-appointed head of Crimea declared a state of emergency, according to bluesky. The same outlet reported that Russian nationalists are demanding a response from President Vladimir Putin. The Guardian noted that President Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and that Russian troops remain engaged in the conflict in 2026. The Guardian also reported that the Russian economy is stuttering and that Putin's popularity is waning among both the public and elites.

The Moscow Times reported that Dmitry Medvedev is the current deputy head of Russia's Security Council. The outlet added that Medvedev served as head of state of Russia from 2008 to 2012, was demoted to prime minister in 2012, and was appointed deputy head of the Security Council in 2020. Since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive, Medvedev has been espousing hardline views on social media, according to the Moscow Times. In public statements since the conflict began, he described Westerners as “bastards and degenerates,” declared that “Ukraine is, of course, Russia,” and raised the possibility of using nuclear weapons.