A prominent Russian state media figure and close ally of Vladimir Putin has sparked outrage after delivering a harsh on-air warning aimed directly at Ukrainians and their president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
During a recent episode of his television show The Evening with Vladimir Solovyov, Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov issued a chilling ultimatum. He told Ukrainians that they face only two options: overthrow their current government or face death as Russia continues its military campaign. Similar rhetoric has previously appeared in discussions about the Kremlin’s use of media pressure, as highlighted in reports on a so-called Putin puppet issuing Ukraine horror warnings.
Solovyov claimed that Russia possesses the ability to “erase everything in its path” if sufficiently provoked, suggesting that any serious retaliation against Moscow would trigger an overwhelming response. His remarks echo a broader pattern of escalating threats that have raised fears of global instability and even WW3-related warnings being discussed by political figures elsewhere.
Addressing Ukrainians directly, he warned them not to claim ignorance later, stating that their government would simply send them to the frontlines to die unless they rose up against it. He also explicitly called for President Zelensky to be “crushed” and “destroyed,” language that drew immediate condemnation.
The comments came as Russia continues sustained missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, including repeated attacks on energy infrastructure during the height of winter. Solovyov claimed these strikes demonstrated Russia’s military superiority and Ukraine’s inability to respond in kind, a claim disputed by Western analysts and international observers.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has drawn widespread international condemnation. In recent days, Russian forces struck the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia twice on February 1, injuring at least nine civilians, including a child. One of the strikes hit a maternity hospital, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov, who described the attack as “a war against life itself.”
The ongoing assault on Ukraine’s power and heating systems has left more than one million people without basic services in parts of the country. Such attacks mirror a broader pattern of targeting civilian infrastructure that critics say violates international norms.
President Zelensky condemned the attacks as a “mockery,” stressing that there is no military justification for striking energy facilities. He urged Western allies to provide additional support, warning of the possibility of another large-scale Russian strike as winter conditions worsen. His appeal comes amid wider geopolitical tensions, including renewed debates over U.S. leadership and instability surrounding Donald Trump’s foreign policy threats.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that he had personally asked Vladimir Putin to pause attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities due to the severe winter conditions, though he did not specify a clear timeline. The statement followed a period in which Trump has faced scrutiny over multiple issues, including fresh health fears and controversial public remarks.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later claimed that Russia refrained from attacking Kyiv until February 1 in response to Trump’s request. However, Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched a mass missile and drone strike on January 24, knocking out power across roughly 80 percent of the capital. Additional attacks were reported days later, striking energy facilities and residential areas in Odesa, despite claims of restraint.
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