The Putin mouthpiece claimed Volodymyr Zelensky must be "crushed" and "destroyed".

20:40, Sat, Jan 31, 2026 Updated: 20:41, Sat, Jan 31, 2026

Television presenter and journalist, Vladimir Solovyov

The Putin mouthpiece claimed Volodymyr Zelensky must be 'crushed' and 'destroyed' (Image: Getty)

One of Vladimir Putin's key state mouthpieces has issued a terrifying threat to Ukraine as Russia's war in the nation approaches its fourth year. It came on the Russian state TV show, "The Evening with Vladimir Solovyov," where the host led a panel on the ongoing conflict and the future of Ukraine.

Solovyov opened by stating that Ukraine's leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, must be "crushed" and "destroyed." He argued that Russia’s ongoing strikes on the Ukrainian energy system, particularly over the harsh winter period, have shown that Russia’s capabilities far exceed Ukraine’s ability to retaliate. "Zelensky won't calm down until he is destroyed," Solovyov said, adding: "until he is squashed like a piece of... I don't want to curse on-air. He has to be destroyed." The speakers then moved on to dismiss reports of high Russian casualties as "stories".

rows of soldiers from North Korea

Russia has the potential to bring in soldiers from North Korea or China, the panel said (Image: Getty)

They went on to suggest that Russia has unlimited possibilities, including potentially bringing in soldiers from North Korea or relocating Chinese forces to free up Russian troops for the front lines.

"We can explain to Westerners that our possibilities are boundless," the host said. "We can, once again, call over to our side the troops of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. I think there are quite a few willing people over there. Also, based on what is currently happening in the People's Republic of China, I don't rule out that some moves are possible there too. At least on the home front, to free up our soldiers to go work on the frontlines. Then it will become clear that we have an unlimited resource but they are running out of Ukrainians."

Solovyov went on to claim that the Ukrainian people have a choice: either to overthrow their "criminal government" or perish on the front lines. He framed the conflict on religious terms, calling the Ukrainian leadership "demons" and asserting that Russians are on a "holy" mission.

"Our goals are sacred," he claimed. "We are Russians, God is with us - and who is with you?"

Russian President Vladimir Putin Participates In An Award Ceremony At The Kremlin

Vladimir Solovyov told Ukrainians: 'You will burn in hell, scumbags! You will burn in hell!' (Image: Getty)

Guest and former Ukrainian politician, Igor Markov, then suggested that Russia only needs to seize territory up to the right bank of the Dnieper, including Odessa, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia. He claimed that any remaining Ukrainian territory without sea access will be abandoned by the West and become "another Gaza".

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Solovyov then delivers an aggressive ultimatum, targeting the Ukrainian people and their leadership. Solovyov argued that Ukrainians must answer for what he describes as the "betrayal" of their shared history and the Orthodox religion. He then told the audience and his guests that they should stop feeling sorry for them: "You will burn in hell, scumbags! You will burn in hell!"

The discussion concluded with aggressive calls to "shoot and hang" the Ukrainian political elite.