A prominent Russian media figure claimed that the country is “doomed to victory” in the Ukraine war, and that its political scene would be largely unaffected by the passing of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Let’s imagine a worst-case scenario—the very worst scenario, god forbid,” Vladimir Solovyov said during a Thursday broadcast, shared by the anti-Kremlin outlet, Russian Media Monitor. “the continuity of government in Russia is guaranteed.”
Russian Media Monitor posts translated clips it considers propaganda from Russian state media. Solovyov is widely known for hosting Evening with Vladimir Solovyov, a talk show which is broadcast by state-owned Russia-1, featuring prominent political figures and commentators, as well as his outspoken advocacy for President Putin.
His comments, appearing to refer to the demise of Russian President Vladimir Putin, came at the end of a brief but wide-ranging diatribe about America’s hurricane season, the war in Ukraine, and the West’s supposed plans for Russia’s downfall.
“Of course I am really worried about the Americans—yeah, right,” the host said. “The hurricane isn’t that strong or that scary anymore even though everyone is concerned.”
He went on to mock Florida residents who on social media had recounted the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, one of the most powerful U.S. storms in recent memory which made landfall in the state less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene.
“It’s their problem, hurricanes are common there. It is what it is,” Solovyov said. “If [buildings] get demolished, they get demolished.”
Russian TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov. On Thursday evening, Solovyov mocked Florida residents whose homes had been destroyed by Hurricane Milton and said Russia would be fine without its leader, Vladimir Putin.
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In a seemingly incongruous turn, the host then turned to the topic of war, more specifically what Putin calls Russia’s Special Military Operation in Ukraine.
“Do all wars end at he negotiating table?” Solovyov said. “We know many wars that ended with the total destruction of the other side.”
He then argued that Ukraine had no right or ability to retain certain territories provided by its post-Soviet borders, which include Crimea, Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and the Kherson region.
“Ukraine thinks that with its population of 30 million, they can occupy the territories where 8-10 million people live and hold these territories, along with the population that hates them—people who by no means consider themselves to be of the same culture as them, who are no longer of the same faith, and who already speak a different language,” Solovoyov said, before claiming that Ukraine hopes “to occupy Russia to a certain extent—to the point that Russian statehood will vanish.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, TV journalist Vladimir Solovyov, center, and NTV Chief Alexei Zemsky celebrate the 25th anniversary of Russian State Television and Broadcasting Company VGTRK in 2016. Solovyov implied that both his country and the Special Military Operation in Ukraine would be fine following the death of Vladimir Putin.
Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images
Solovyov ended the broadcast discussing the West’s plans for defeating Russia, which he said would comprise a “political defeat” followed by “a military collapse.”
Without naming the Russian president directly, Solovyov said that both Russia and its military operations in Ukraine would survive a “change” in the country’s political scene, and that the Russia is “doomed to victory in this war.”
“Let’s imagine a worst-case scenario. The very worst scenario, god forbid,” he said. “The continuity of government in Russia is guaranteed. An entire generation of leaders was raised in Russia and came to power in Russia. These leaders are highly professional and patriotic, they are team players.”
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