Russian state television host Vladimir Solovyov has again threatened nuclear strikes on European capitals, this time urging Western media to publicise his remarks. Speaking on his Russia-1 programme, Solovyov addressed European viewers directly.
Threats Against Paris, Brussels and Berlin
Solovyov said: “Do you Europeans think you’re the hegemon? Wake up. Just wake up. All your military exercises, all your tension, all your loud words. Who do you want to scare?” He continued: “Every century, you unite just to get kicked right in the face by a Russian soldier. And this time the boot will be nuclear. We won’t even need to reach your cities.”
He added: “I mean, what is there to do among the radioactive dust of Paris, Brussels, Berlin? Besides, we don’t even wear boots anymore.” Solovyov then instructed: “Don’t forget to quote this in all your newspapers tomorrow.”
Propaganda Pattern on State Media
Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko posted the clip, stating: “Russian propagandist Solovyev is once again threatening Paris, Brussels, and Berlin with radioactive dust. He explicitly asks to be quoted in European newspapers. After all, that’s what he gets paid for.”
Solovyov has previously advocated nuclear use against Britain, Germany and other NATO states. In earlier broadcasts he has called for Poseidon drone strikes on the UK and described nuclear war as preferable to Russian defeat. The latest remarks form part of a pattern of nuclear threats on Russian state media directed at European cities.
Context of Conflict
The comments come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces’ battlefield position is the strongest in some time following a series of secret operations that recaptured territory. These include Operation Veles near Kupiansk, in which Ukrainian troops used underground gas pipelines to outflank Russian positions, an air assault in the east, and Operation Vivaldi further north.
Russia has fired more than 100 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and surrounding areas in the past two weeks, striking civilian sites including a university campus. A US-brokered local ceasefire around the occupied southern town of Oleshky has held for its first 30 hours, allowing humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations.
Finland’s president and Norway’s prime minister held a rare call with Vladimir Putin urging an end to the conflict, while technical-level peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States are scheduled for November.
