Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The remarks came during a scathing monologue, where he slammed the current Russian apporach to the war in Ukriane.
A leading Kremlin-linked television presenter sparked global uproar this weekend with a stark call for greater bloodshed in the Ukraine war.
The comments, aired on his nightly programme, have been seized on by Kyiv and Western capitals as evidence of Moscow’s hardline stance amid deepening frustration on the battlefield.
What did he say?
On Solovyov Live broadcast on January 10, Russian media personality Vladimir Solovyov said forcefully that “it is necessary to physically kill more people” in the conflict, according to a clip with English captions on the YouTube channel Russian Media Monitor.
Solovyov framed the statement as part of an argument that Russia’s war effort must be intensified if Moscow is to prevail against Ukraine and Western support for Kyiv.
According to the clip, Solovyov insisted that simply targeting infrastructure was insufficient and advocated for a harder military strategy.
International responses
International reactions were swift. Ukrainian officials condemned Solovyov’s language, characterising it as evidence of genocidal intent and citing the remarks to reinforce calls for sustained Western support for Kyiv.
Western governments reiterated commitments to Ukraine’s defence in response to what they termed dangerously escalatory rhetoric.
The comments come as the Ukraine war nears its fourth year, with continued heavy fighting and diplomatic efforts ongoing, including talks about security guarantees for Kyiv with Western allies.
Escalating rhetoric
Solovyov’s broadcast also critiqued what he described as hesitancy in Russian foreign policy, and he referenced global issues beyond the Ukraine front.
In segments noted by analysts, he questioned U.S. influence around the world and commented on geopolitical hotspots including Venezuela.
The presenter, one of the most prominent figures in state-aligned media and a frequent mouthpiece for the Kremlin’s positions, has a history of incendiary commentary. Reports have documented past calls for nuclear strikes and provocations against Western nations in earlier broadcasts.
A sanctioned mouthpiece
Solovyov remains sanctioned by the EU and UK for his role in spreading disinformation and advocating violence, yet he retains a significant platform on Russian-controlled television.
You can watch the clip of Solovyov calling for more deaths on YouTube here (opens new tab).
Sources: Russian Media Monitor, ISW/Understanding War, sanctions registry.
