One of Vladimir Putin’s top allies issued a chilling warning to Ukrainians, telling them to either overthrow their government or die. While Russia continues to pummel Ukrainian cities and town, propagandist and media personality Vladimir Solovyov launched into the rant while hosting his TV programme, The Evening With Vladimir Solovyov. 

He warned that Russia could “erase everything in its path” should it be provoked. He said: “There are still some people there who have heads on their shoulders, who understand that an attempt to cause terrible damage to Russia will lead us to the kind of wrath that will erase everything in its path as it has always happened throughout our history.

“We will fight mercilessly. Ukrainians, don’t say you haven’t been warned. You have a simple choice: either overthrow your criminal government and live in peace, or die after the government sends you to the frontlines.”

He claimed 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.

The harrowing rant comes as Russia, whose forces unlawfully invaded the neighbouring country in February 2022, continues its brutal military attacks on Ukraine.

Putin’s troops launched two attacks on February 1 on Zaporizhzhia, injuring at least nine people including a child. One of the attacks saw a maternity hospital being struck, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

He also said: “The strike on the maternity hospital is yet another proof of a war waged against life.”

The strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure that Solovyov mentioned caused over one million people in the south east of the country to go without heating and water last month.

Zelensky called it a “mockery” and urged the West to lend support amid fears of “a new massive Russian strike” amid the frigid winter conditions.

He said “there is no military sense in such strikes on the energy sector, on infrastructure” and urged Ukrainians to remain “resilient” against Russia’s attempts “to break Ukraine”.

Last week, US President Donald Trump said he had asked Vladimir Putin to pause attacks on Kyiv and Ukrainian cities and town for a week as the harsh winter conditions were biting. However he didn’t provide a timeframe.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov claimed on January 30 Mr Trump’s request would see Russia not attacking Kyiv until February 1. Russia carried out a mass missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital on January 24, which created a power outage across 80% of the city. On January 27, it reportedly launched a deadly attack on the energy infrastructure as well as residential buildings in Odesa.