On Russian state television’s flagship propaganda programme, “Sunday Evening With Vladimir Solovyov,” the Kremlin’s most loyal mouthpieces gathered to congratulate each other while Ukraine burns and soldiers die on both sides of the front.
The host, Vladimir Solovyov, opened the broadcast by scoffing at calls from the West for an immediate ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine. He dismissed Western diplomacy as cowardly interference and boasted that Russian troops are winning because “God is with us.” With his trademark theatrical tone, Solovyov claimed Russian soldiers are not only better trained but spiritually superior, echoing themes of divine justification that often accompany state messaging.
In a carefully staged segment, Solovyov then congratulated Margarita Simonyan, the editor in chief of RT (formerly Russia Today), on receiving yet another state honour. Simonyan, visibly touched, insisted that the award was not from the state but from “the people,” parroting a statement from Russian dictator Vladimir Putin who is known for using such awards to cement loyalty among the elite.
Simonyan went on to deliver a monologue about love for the “Motherland,” likening those who lack patriotic zeal to people “born deaf, blind and mute.” Despite her husband reportedly being in a coma, Simonyan said she would not allow herself to grieve, because the “greatest happiness” is to “serve the homeland” and “fulfill its will.”
Broadcasts like these serve to manufacture public consent, glorify war, and shield the Kremlin elite from any scrutiny or dissent.
In a bizarre moment, Simonyan praised Solovyov’s own alleged bravery, claiming that when he is off-air he dons a bulletproof vest and visits the front lines. The pair then exchanged florid thanks in a theatrical back and forth that felt more like a poorly directed state play than a news programme.
The programme also touched on United States president Donald Trump, whose views were framed as sympathetic to Russia. Solovyov quoted Trump as saying Europe is untrustworthy and that the United States should let Russia “negotiate directly with Ukraine.” The implication was clear: the Kremlin prefers Trump’s hands-off approach, which ignores Ukraine’s sovereignty and plays into Russia’s imperial narrative.
Programmes like “Sunday Evening With Vladimir Solovyov” serve as a window into the Kremlin’s state-controlled information war. The public praise, the denial of battlefield realities, and the focus on elite self-congratulation stand in stark contrast to the real suffering caused by Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
