Latest news with #VladimirSolovyov
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- General
- Newsweek
Putin Ally Says Ukraine Operation 'Grounds for Nuclear Attack'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ukraine's audacious targeting of major Russian airbases is "grounds for a nuclear attack," a prominent Kremlin propagandist and ally of Russia's President Vladimir Putin has said. Why It Matters Ukraine launched simultaneous attacks on multiple Russian airfields on Sunday in an operation dubbed "Spiderweb," which Kyiv officials said was more than a year and a half in the making. Ukraine's SBU security service said it had struck four major Russian air bases, largely housing the country's long-range aviation fleet used to carry out extensive strikes on Ukraine and capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Russia has the world's largest nuclear arsenal, made up of strategic weapons designed to target distant cities and tactical, or nonstrategic, weapons. These are also known as tactical nuclear weapons, designed to be less destructive. TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 6, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Russia. TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 6, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Russia. OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images Russia's government reported attacks on five bases including the Ukrainka long-range hub in the far eastern Amur region, which Kyiv did not explicitly mention and declined to clarify when approached for comment. The region's governor said part of a truck had "caught fire" close to the village of Seryshevo, but denied the Ukrainka air base was targeted by drones. The Ukrainka base sits just outside of Seryshevo, and Ukraine said the drones were smuggled over the border into Russia and mounted on trucks with removable roofs. While the purported damage may not halt Russia's extensive aerial campaigns against Ukraine, the strikes have left a painful dent in a branch of the Russian military that had been largely unscathed by more than three years of war in Ukraine. It is likely Russia will retaliate with significant force, former SBU officer Ivan Stupak previously told Newsweek. The strikes came ahead of a second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, which failed to yield concrete progress toward a deal but did produce a new agreement on prisoner swaps. What To Know Sunday's coordinated attacks are "grounds for a nuclear attack," Vladimir Solovyov, one of Russia's most well-known propagandists and state commentators, said in remarks reported by Ukrainian media. The TV presenter has repeatedly pushed nuclear weapons into Russian discourse around the more than three years of war in Ukraine, and has floated the idea of a nuclear strike on NATO countries. Shortly after Ukraine launched an incursion across the border into Russia's Kursk region in August 2024, Solovyov claimed the Kremlin had the "basis to start a nuclear war." Putin placed the country's nuclear deterrence forces on high alert as Moscow's forces invaded Ukraine in early 2022, and the Kremlin's veteran Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said a few months later that the risks of nuclear conflict had become "considerable." Moscow updated its nuclear doctrine in November 2024 to justify a nuclear strike in response to an attack on Russia by a nonnuclear country if they are backed by a nuclear-armed nation. Solovyov also called for the Russian soldiers who filmed the aftermath of Sunday's attacks to be executed, according to a translation published by the Russian Media Monitor project, run by journalist Julia Davis. In an ominous statement penned to "all who are worried and waiting for retribution," Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president and the current deputy chairman of the country's security council, said on Tuesday: "You need to worry." "Retribution is inevitable," he added in a post to messaging app Telegram. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—who had deemed the operation "brilliant"—said on Monday that "no one cares whether Russia is angry," adding Moscow had launched a "massive overnight attack" on Ukraine into the early hours of Sunday. Ukraine's air force said at the time that Russia had fired 472 attack drones, three hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles and four cruise missiles at the country between Saturday evening and early Sunday. Early on Tuesday, Zelensky said Russia had launched a "savage" rocket artillery strike on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy overnight. Local authorities said at least three people had been killed and more than 20 injured. Russia's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday it had attacked Ukrainian troops in villages northeast of the city of Sumy and captured the village of Andriivka. This could not be independently verified. What People Are Saying The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank said on Monday that Moscow has upped its ground attacks around Andriivka. Russia is "intensifying efforts to widen the frontline" in the north of Sumy, to the north and northeast of the regional capital, the think tank added. What Happens Next Solovyov separately said it was "clear that there will be an escalation" after the strikes, but it would be up to Russia's leadership to "determine the scale of it."
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
How Ukraine hid drones in mobile homes and blew up nuclear-capable aircraft in Russia
For 18 months, Ukraine's internal security service planned an audacious assault on far-flung Russian airfields – first sneaking drones into Russia, then planting them near key military runways. On Sunday, just ahead of a new round of peace talks, it was go-time: Near four unsuspecting Russian military bases, remotely activated roofs lifted off mobile homes and sheds parked on flatbed trucks. Armed Ukrainian drones tucked inside soared upward, then pounced on military aircraft lined up on the runways, engulfing many in flames. The brazen attack – which Ukrainian officials claimed destroyed at least 13 Russian aircraft and damaged dozens of others – shocked Russia and instantly reduced its capabilities to threaten nuclear attack or launch missile strikes on Ukraine and other countries. It also served as a crucial reminder to Moscow and Ukraine's Western partners that Kyiv remains capable of exploiting Russia's weaknesses and disrupting its war plans, despite being outnumbered and outgunned. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Ukraine said the damaged or destroyed planes, some of which were nuclear capable, included A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22 M3, and Tu-160 – planes Kyiv said Russia had used nearly every night to bomb Ukraine. Many details of how the attack was planned are still not public and it was not immediately clear how many of the Russian planes were operational at the time of the attack. Video footage and reactions published on social media showed how in Russia, the drones strikes stirred panic, confusion and then, from pro-war commentators, rage. Governors from several regions, including as far as Siberia, reported the drone attacks. Russian onlookers filmed smoke billowing over the airfields and narrated their shock. Soon, pro-war military bloggers had dubbed the attack 'Russia's Pearl Harbor.' In videos that could not be independently verified by The Post, people who appear to be locals living around the air bases posted videos of drones zooming past them and plumes of billowing black smoke on the horizon. In one video, a woman watches a drone move toward a smoldering air base as her neighbors suggest it might be the 11th to fly by. In another video, a man filmed as several drones flew out of the back of a truck stationed on the side of a highway. A volley of gunfire can be heard in the background as security forces try to shoot the drones down. In another, a young soldier apparently stationed at another air base, posted video of several aircraft burning. Facing the camera, he uses an expletive to describe the scene. Enraged chief Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov later demanded that he be shot for filming the video and called him a 'scumbag.' Meanwhile, in Kyiv, the SBU, the Ukrainian security agency that planned the brazen strikes, publicly took credit for the plan and revealed the operation's code name as Spiderweb. President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly posted photos of himself hugging the agency head, Lt. Gen. Vasyl Maliuk, in celebration. 'The enemy thought that it could bomb Ukraine and kill Ukrainians with impunity and endlessly,' Maliuk said in a statement Monday. 'But this is not so. We will respond to Russian terror and destroy the enemy everywhere.' In Ukraine, the successful attack injected some much-needed optimism into a society beleaguered by more than three years of full-scale war and worn down by what many see as undue U.S. pressure to concede to Russian demands even without security guarantees. 'This operation completely changes the perception of reality – both within Russia and around the world. Our enemies are now forced to recognize that Ukrainian intelligence services are capable of penetrating even the most secure facilities,' said Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko, who serves as secretary of parliament's national security committee. 'When the enemy loses dozens of strategic bombers, it's not just a technical loss; it's a blow to its ability to blackmail the world with missile strikes.' Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Ukraine had transferred its Tu bombers to Moscow as part of its 1996 agreement to give up its nuclear capabilities in exchange for security guarantees from several countries, including Russia. 'On June 1, 2025, Ukraine began removing those very aircraft from one of the memorandum's main guarantors. That guarantor had shamelessly used them against peaceful Ukrainians,' he said, describing Sunday's attack as 'a peculiar form of military-legal sanctions.' One former Ukrainian official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive political moment, described the attack as providing an 'immense inspirational push for Ukrainian society and soldiers' that he fears may inspire more resistance to compromise that could lead to a real ceasefire. 'We're less likely to compromise in the nearest future. And some form of a compromise seem to be the only way to stop [or] pause the war,' he said. Still, he added, the attack dramatically improved the SBU's reputation and 'deserves to be described in history books.' Russian officials and state media, meanwhile, remained noticeably silent on Sunday's attacks. According to Russian outlet Agentsvo, Russian state broadcasters Channel One and Rossiya 1 each devoted 40 seconds of airtime to this unprecedented attack on distant Russian air bases. By Monday morning, the news had disappeared from the news bulletins. 'The smartest thing Putin could do right now would be to not respond immediately,' wrote Vladimir Pastukhov, a Russian political scientist based in London. 'Putin's best response is to delay his response – which he is good at.' 'Putin does not have many spectacular 'good' moves in the current situation,' he continued, 'Ukraine has no comparable facilities that can be destroyed without infernal civilian casualties and enormous damage to the environment … which would traumatize the already troubled Trump.' Pro-Kremlin military blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk, who runs the Rybar Telegram channel, said that the attack would cause substantial 'moral and psychological damage' and that Ukraine's operation was not only aimed at exploiting gaps in defense but also 'creating colossal tension' in society and discrediting the security services. If Ukraine can attack air bases, he speculated it could also attack highways and transport routes, stirring panic. 'Of course, from the point of view of undermining Russia's military potential, this is an extremely unpleasant story, especially in the context of the loss of the Tu-95MS,' Zvinchuk said, referring to the mainstay of Russia's fleet of nuclear bombers. Russian opposition figures meanwhile marveled online at Ukraine's 'amazing' and 'crazy' operation. 'Everyone says that the only way to negotiate with Putin is to negotiate from a position of strength. Well here it is,' wrote Russian opposition politician and former political prisoner Ilya Yashin on social media. Yan Matveyev, a military analyst at Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, described the attack as 'a direct and highly sensitive blow to the nuclear triad' that destroyed 'rare and expensive bombers.' 'Most importantly, it reduced the Russian Air Force's ability to strike Ukrainian cities,' Matveyev wrote on Telegram. — Ebel reported from London. Natalia Abbakumova in Riga, Latvia contributed to this report. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Russia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Alleged threats to chief Russian negotiator's family ‘outrageous'
Alleged threats being made against Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky and his family are 'outrageous,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, noting that authorities are already working to determine their source. His remarks come after TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov recently stated that Medinsky – who led Russia's delegation at the peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul earlier this month – was receiving death threats from the Ukrainian side. His family was also allegedly targeted. DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Newsweek
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Russian State TV Launches Patriotic Kids Show Featuring Toddler Trump
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov is launching a children's show featuring animated toddler versions of world leaders—including President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un—which he claims will instil patriotism in young viewers from an early age. Solovyov, a prominent Russian state TV host and close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced show's debut on social media Wednesday. Why It Matters The show will air on Russian state TV and will therefore mirror the Kremlin's talking points and agenda. Solovyov himself is known for his hawkish views of the West and for repeatedly threatening that Russia could strike NATO member states. What To Know Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov's SolovyovLive project says it is launching SolovyovKids, a children's propaganda TV service where "patriotism is instilled from an early age, and analytical thinking develops even before the first year at school" — Francis Scarr (@francis_scarr) May 15, 2025 Solovyov, one of the most prominent figures in Kremlin-backed media, announced the launch of the kids show on his Telegram channel on Wednesday, describing it as "an ambitious step into the future, where political awareness starts in infancy." It "opens the door to the world of big politics for young audiences," the propagandist said. The show, he said, is "not just a program, it is a master class on the current agenda in a format understandable to children." "Where else can kids discuss geopolitics with the same ease as conflicts over a shovel in the sand?" he wrote. "SolovyovKids is when patriotism is instilled from an early age, and analytical thinking develops even before first grade. It's time to rethink children's television." Solovyov's announcement was accompanied by an animated video in which characters resembling the toddler versions of world leaders, including Putin, Trump, Kim, French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, participate in a group video call. The clip also features a baby version of SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, seen playing with a toy Cybertruck—one of Tesla's flagship vehicles. In the animation, mini Erdogan invites the group to "vacation in Istanbul," while toddler Macron is told that he will not be invited because he is "always with his grandmother"—a thinly veiled jab at Macron's wife, who is 24 years his senior. What People Are Saying BBC journalist Francis Scarr posted the video on X (formerly Twitter), writing: "Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov's SolovyovLive project says it is launching SolovyovKids, a children's propaganda TV service where 'patriotism is instilled from an early age, and analytical thinking develops even before the first year at school.'" X user Tetiana wrote: "Solovyov launched SolovyovKids — because why wait till adulthood to rot your brain? First show is "Pesochnitsa"(Sandbox): cartoon putin cracks jokes, Kim Jong-un dunks on Macron. It's like day care in North Korea with russian flavor." What Happens Next It's unclear when the new show will launch on Russian state TV.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What we know about UK's nuclear war deterrence after Russian propagandist made 'kill all British people' warning
The UK versus Russia drama continues, and this time, it's all about what our defence options are in light of a very serious comment being issued to us. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the possibility of World War 3 looms over our heads, and Vladimir Putin's regime have been flexing their power for a while now. From a simulation showing how a nuclear strike would 'sink' the entire country, to a 'leaked' list of nuclear targets in the UK, it would appear that the UK in particular is a special focus of the Russian propagandists - namely TV anchor Vladimir Solovyov. In the past, he's claimed that 'one Sarmat [missile] means minus one Great Britain' and said that any UK troops in Ukraine will 'all die', though he also directed that warning towards the French, too. And recently, he issued another one towards the UK, saying we'd 'certainly perish' for 'waging war against them', as Margarita Simonyan added: "We will kill them all." Now, while the threat is understandably scary, can it be done? Perhaps, but we do have a major weapon at our disposal in the UK. According to the Ministry of Defence's YouTube channel and the government's website, we have a significant nuclear deterrent that works, and works well. It's all thanks to the power of patrolling submarines. As per the website, the UK has at least one of its submarines out patrolling the seas undetected at all times of the day, every single day. These submarines are there to help to guarantee the nation's safety and as well as the UK's NATO Allies' safety by 'deterring the most extreme threats to our national security'. The gov site claims that while 'nuclear conflict remains remote', 'the threats the UK faces are increasing in scale, diversity and complexity' which is why we need to scare off any potential predators. 'The purpose of nuclear deterrence is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression. Potential aggressors know that the costs of attacking the UK, or our NATO allies, could far outweigh any benefit they could hope to achieve." it continues. "This deters states from using their nuclear weapons against us or carrying out the most extreme threats to our national security.' To do this, in April 1969, the Royal Navy began to constantly patrol the sea with 'at least one nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine' in a bid to 'preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression'. The continuous at sea deterrent (aka, CASD) is a cost-effective platform which can deploy the independent nuclear deterrent which can fire a missile within 'several days' notice'. Though the missile is not aimed at any state, it can surely blow something out of the water, or maybe even something flying above it. The current Prime Minister is the only person who can authorise the use of the nuclear weapons and he should only consider it as part of a self-defence strategy, which includes the defence of NATO allies. In a recent session at the Houses of Parliament, Lord Oates asked whether the government had considered what it was giving to secure the full independence of the deterrent, to which Lord Coaker replied (via UK Defence Journal): "I can assure the noble Lord that the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent is completely operationally independent. "Only the Prime Minister can authorise the firing of our nuclear weapons, even if they are to be employed as part of a NATO response."
