Vladimir Solovyov, a leading Russian state television propagandist, has threatened Britain with nuclear annihilation and told Britons they should prepare to drown. In a primetime broadcast, Solovyov called for Russia to use its Poseidon nuclear underwater drone against the United Kingdom.
He said: “Hit them with Poseidon. Give the British three days to learn to breathe underwater, then hit them with Poseidon.”
Accusations over Ukraine strikes
The remarks came after reports of Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia using British-supplied drones. Solovyov accused Britain of directing the attacks.
“Now, strikes deep into Russia are being carried out with British weapons… this is classic Anglo-Saxon warfare. We need to understand who we’re fighting and respond asymmetrically… They need to be destroyed.”
He demanded attacks on British industry and logistics, explaining: “British factories must burn; [British] assets must be destroyed.” He also called for the expulsion of British journalists and the closure of the British embassy in Moscow: “When will they finally get rid of all these British journalists [in Moscow], all this vomiting anti-Russian scum, from here? Drive them all out of here, and close the [British] embassy and kick them out.”
Previous threats and religious framing
Solovyov has issued similar threats before. In one earlier broadcast he said: “I have friends in Britain – wonderful people, beautiful by the way. You just need to tell them: ‘Guys, you have 24 hours, either learn to breathe underwater… or leave Britain.’” In another he declared: “Great Britain will be wiped off the face of the earth by Russia’s might.”
He has also asked on air: “Which city do you like the least? Which city should be wiped off the face of the earth?” and suggested Russia’s options were “Sarmat… and Poseidon.”
He has framed the conflict in religious terms. “This is a holy war and we must win,” he said. “We are opposed, well, by and large, by Satanists, who don’t even hide it… including the current Prime Minister of Britain, who says he will press on.”
Poseidon weapon and official response
Poseidon is an experimental nuclear-powered underwater vehicle that Russian propagandists claim could generate a radioactive tsunami. Solovyov has repeatedly presented it as a means of drowning Britain.
Western officials treat the rhetoric as propaganda rather than operational planning. The weapon remains unproven in service. Russia’s conventional forces are heavily committed in Ukraine. Any nuclear attack on a NATO member would trigger a collective defence response.
The threats form part of a sustained campaign on Russian state media that singles out Britain for its support of Ukraine. Solovyov’s comments do not constitute official policy. President Vladimir Putin has not ordered such a strike.
They do, however, show the tone of Kremlin-aligned television, where open discussion of drowning the British population is presented as a legitimate option. British policy has not changed. The UK continues to supply weapons and support to Ukraine.
