(MOSCOW, RUSSIA) \u2013 A prominent Russian state television and radio host has launched an unhinged tirade threatening Ukrainians with death and advocating for nuclear strikes against European military infrastructure, days after the Kremlin was forced to acknowledge a public relations crisis triggered by a former reality television star.<\/p>\n
Vladimir Solovyov, a veteran Kremlin propagandist, dedicated a significant portion of his \u201cFull Contact\u201d radio programme to attacking Victoria Bonya, a Russian socialite and former presenter, for a recent online video in which she stated that \u201cpeople are afraid\u201d of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Solovyov, who frequently uses his platform to issue violent threats against Moscow\u2019s enemies, claimed his habit of insulting women was a form of respect, citing the principle of equality.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou advocate for equal rights for women. If it is possible to be rude to men, then it is probably also possible to be rude to women,\u201d Solovyov reasoned, attempting to justify misogynistic language during the broadcast alongside weatherman Evgeny Tishkovets and US correspondent Valentin Bogdanov.<\/p>\n
The immediate cause of Solovyov\u2019s fury was a statement by Bonya that the Kremlin itself confirmed it had \u201cnoticed.\u201d Solovyov asserted the entire performance was a Western media operation designed around a single phrase. \u201cPeople are afraid of you. Why was this done? This is the narrative that is repeatedly repeated later by the Western media,\u201d Solovyov stated. He argued the phrase \u201cpeople are afraid of you\u201d undermines the Russian dictator by suggesting he is \u201cnot a representative of the people\u2019s interests, a national leader, but the most popular politician in Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n
The broadcast quickly descended into direct threats against Ukrainians. Responding to a critical message from a listener identified as Sergei, Solovyov, who claims protected status, boasted of his marksmanship. \u201cI am a protected object. Try something, and we will waste you. I shoot very well. I am a master of sports in practical shooting,\u201d he threatened. He added: \u201cLet the Banderites look over their shoulders. I despise and hate you Nazis. And as long as I live, I will crush you scum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Escalating his rhetoric to nuclear brinkmanship, Solovyov pivoted to a meteorological discussion with weatherman Evgeny Tishkovets about the west-to-east movement of air masses. Tishkovets suggested \u201cfavourable windows\u201d exist for radiation to move from east to west. Solovyov stated: \u201cI absolutely support the point of view that it is necessary to go up the escalation ladder, but not from their side, but from our side, in order to eliminate this fascist evil, including not only on the territory of Ukraine, but also on the territory of Europe, and to launch nuclear strikes on the military industrial complex of Europe, which is only growing with each passing month. This is a big war.\u201d<\/p>\n