As the war in Ukraine approaches its fourth anniversary, the Kremlin’s propaganda efforts continue to permeate Russian media, particularly on television. A central figure in this effort is television presenter Vladimir Solovyov.
Solovyov is the voice of the conflict for many Russians, serving as the star anchor on Russia’s primary state-owned television channel. His pronouncements are often stark. “Ukraine must be destroyed, and it will be,” he declared on air, and, “We will kill you all.” Daily, he delivers his analysis of the ongoing conflict to a wide audience. “We don’t need peace. We want victory,” he stated in June 2025. He openly embraces his role as a conduit for the Kremlin’s narrative, even at the expense of factual accuracy. “Lies are permanent. The enemy must be deceived. Sometimes, the traditional media serves this purpose,” the presenter admitted in late January.
Solovyov’s path to becoming the Kremlin’s leading propagandist is a varied one. He began his career as a researcher in Moscow, then taught economics in the United States before returning to Russia to pursue business ventures. He discovered the world of media in the late 1990s, moving through radio shows, debates, and even television performances. In 2002, he openly challenged the authorities after the closure of the radio station where he worked, stating, “The authorities have done their dark work in Moscow. We no longer exist, and in a few minutes, we will be gone.”
He found a champion in Vladimir Putin, offering his support as early as 2007. “Putin believes in Russia and believes in himself. And we believe in Russia and in ourselves,” Solovyov proclaimed. He subsequently joined state television, where he hosted the New Year’s Eve special in 2013. A striking image from that broadcast shows Volodymyr Zelenskyy, now the President of Ukraine, performing as an entertainer – a scene unimaginable today.
The dynamic has drastically shifted. Zelenskyy is now a frequent target of Solovyov’s criticism. “It’s brainwashing. It’s the minute of hate that you find in Orwell’s 1984. It has been a way of both inspiring fear and making it clear to millions of Russians that the tide had turned and that now the enemy was the Ukrainians because they were Nazis and because NATO was supposedly going to establish itself there,” explains Cécile Vaissié, a professor of Russian studies at the University of Rennes 2.
Solovyov’s rhetoric has become increasingly aggressive towards the European Union. “Europe has always been and remains the empire of evil,” he asserts, accusing its leaders of being Nazis. “Ursula von der Leyen is the new Hitler.” He has even called for the direct bombing of several European cities, including those in France. His channel, Russia One, is the most popular in Russia. In a country where any criticism of the war is suppressed in the media, millions of Russians are daily exposed to Solovyov’s diatribes.
The Security Service of Ukraine has issued criminal charges against Solovyov in absentia, accusing him of justifying Russian war crimes and inciting genocide against Ukrainians. The SBU documented instances of Solovyov advocating for a tactical nuclear strike on Ukraine and repeatedly calling for the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the targeting of Ukrainian cities.
Notably, in October 2025, Solovyov surprised viewers with a rare admission that Ukraine “will never fall” – a departure from the Kremlin’s usual propaganda line. This moment, while seemingly contradictory, underscores the complexities within the Russian propaganda machine and potentially reflects internal assessments of the conflict’s trajectory.
Solovyov’s career demonstrates a remarkable evolution from a critic of the establishment to its most prominent defender. His ability to adapt and align himself with the prevailing political winds has cemented his position as a key figure in shaping public opinion within Russia, and a central component of the Kremlin’s information war.
[Links to articles from Holod, Desk-Russie, Charlie Hebdo, and L’Express are available for further reading.]
