(MOSCOW) – Russian state media presenter Vladimir Solovyov insulted viewers during a live broadcast of his radio programme Full Contact after being questioned about the war against Ukraine and the absence of his sons from the front.
The exchange began when a listener commented sarcastically on geopolitical discussions aired by the programme, noting that Greenland had repeatedly rejected any idea of being sold. Solovyov dismissed the remark and shifted the discussion to the war, accusing critics of ignoring continued strikes inside Russia and claiming that Ukraine planned to kill tens of thousands of Russian soldiers each month.
Solovyov then directly targeted a viewer he identified as being of military age, demanding to know why the individual was not fighting and accusing him of doing nothing personally to secure a Russian victory. He repeatedly challenged listeners to explain what they had done since 2014 for residents of occupied areas of the Donbas, mocking what he described as armchair commentary.
The tone escalated after another viewer asked why Solovyov’s own sons were not serving at the front while other families’ children were being sent to fight. Solovyov refused to answer directly, saying such questions should be asked from the battlefield and insisting that mobilisation rules were simple, with those who had prior service being called up.
He accused the questioner of hiding behind an anonymous account and suggested the inquiry was influenced by Ukrainian information operations. Solovyov said his family faced constant threats and claimed this justified secrecy around his children’s whereabouts and activities, adding that most of them were adults and could respond for themselves.
Throughout the broadcast, Solovyov repeatedly demanded that critics reveal their identities and accused them of acting on behalf of Kyiv or foreign handlers. He also verbally abused listeners, saying he neither respected nor valued them and openly described some as enemies.
The presenter welcomed tensions within NATO and expressed satisfaction at political difficulties faced by Denmark in discussions involving Greenland. He said conflict within the alliance benefited Russia and described such divisions as desirable and enjoyable.
Solovyov went on to argue that NATO should have been dissolved at the end of the Cold War, calling the unilateral dissolution of the Warsaw Pact a historic mistake. He praised aggressive rhetoric used by the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin against Russia’s enemies and defended hostile language as appropriate.
The broadcast concluded with further insults directed at listeners, particularly those using anonymous accounts or living outside Russia, including Kazakhstan. Solovyov claimed such behaviour confirmed his view that critics of the war were hostile actors rather than genuine members of the audience.
