Vladimir Solovyov is the state TV host of the nightly program on Russia-1 and a close Vladimir Putin ally in the media realm.
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Attacking European capitals
According to Newsweek, Solovyov regularly centres the discussion of his shows on attacking European capitals.
Most recently, Anton Gerashchenko shared on Twitter a segment of a recent show where Solovyov jokingly suggested Russia not stop at his eastern neighbour. After capturing Lviv the westernmost city of Ukraine, he said Russia set eyes on capturing London and Lisbon:
I can imagine our troops entering London, our guys running out of pubs and shouting, 'Guys, turn left, turn right! We've been waiting for you here for a long time. Russian partisans in action! Right?
One of the guests, whose identity is not known from the excerpt of the show that was shared by Geraschenko, was overheard being incredibly confident about the Russian ability to march towards Europe:
If we reach Lviv, it will be ours. If we reach Lisbon and London, they will be ours. He further said the Russians now know London very well.
Completely out-of-touch discussions on live TV
According to Republicworld, during the most recent debate about Russia reaching London, Solovyov even suggested that the fans of Chelsea Football Club would side with Russia, by describing them as possible collaborators:
[they would be] our very conspiratorial fifth column.
Chelsea FC was until early this year owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich who due to the Ukraine warwas forced to sell the club and was barred from living in the UK, Dailytrust reports.
This iteration of Russian threats towards the West on state media and live TV, in general, has become a norm.
For months, pundits and Russian politicians have bent reality, spurred propaganda, and threatened the West with complete nuclear annihilation.
In September, Andrey Gurulyov, a Russian parliamentarian, threatened to turn the UK into a ‘martian desert land’ with a nuclear attack.
Sources used:
-Newsweek: ‘Russian State TV Hosts Joke About Invasion of London: “They Will Be Ours”'
-Republicworld: ‘Watch: Russian State TV Hosts Joke London, Lisbon 'will Be Ours'
-Dailytrust: ‘Russia: Chelsea Owner, Abramovich Barred From Living In Britain’