"Zelensky is a Terrorist": Russian Lawmaker Gurulyov Calls for "Elimination" Following Kherson Hotel Strike

In a scathing statement issued on January 2, 2026, State Duma Deputy and retired General Andrey Gurulyov condemned a recent missile strike on a hotel in Russian-controlled Kherson. Gurulyov characterized the incident not as a tactical error, but as a deliberate "choice of method" by the Ukrainian government to target non-combatants. He argued that such strikes are designed as "bloody demonstrations" to prove Ukraine's ongoing "utility" to its Western backers, despite a lack of progress on the front lines.

The deputy’s rhetoric marks a significant escalation in Kremlin-aligned discourse. By explicitly labeling President Zelensky a "terrorist" and calling for the "elimination" of the Ukrainian leadership, Gurulyov is signaling a shift toward a total war posture. While he noted that the Russian military response remains a matter of classified planning, his comments reflect the hardening stance within United Russia following the intense winter offensives of late 2025. This statement reinforces the Kremlin's narrative that the conflict has moved beyond a territorial dispute into a counter-terrorism operation against what they term the "Kyiv regime."