(MOSCOW) – A Nobel Peace Prize winning Russian journalist has declared that victory is no longer possible for the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg, Dmitry Muratov, co-founder of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, stated that despite the Kremlin’s ability to inflict immense destruction, it could never subjugate the Ukrainian nation.
“There will never be victory with Ukraine,” Muratov said. “You can destroy it, but you can’t conquer it.”
Muratov, whose newspaper was forced to halt operations under pressure from Russian authorities following the full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, painted a grim picture of a society where war has been normalised by state propaganda. He noted that public figures have promoted the conflict, citing an example from the St. Petersburg Economic Forum where a conservative activist suggested the war could last until 2036 and that a “good scenario” for Russia involved the use of nuclear weapons.
The journalist said this prospect pleases no one. According to his pollsters, fervent support for the war has dwindled to 10 to 15 percent of the population, with most people now desiring a simple ceasefire, abandoning previous caveats about achieving peace “on our terms”.
Muratov also dismissed speculation from political analysts about the inner workings of the Russian dictator’s mind, calling them “charlatans”. He highlighted the unprecedented number of public discussions about nuclear weapons, noting that since the beginning of the year, the need to use them has been mentioned over 500 times.
“No one knows what’s going on in Vladimir Putin’s head,” he said.
The Russian journalist condemned the staggering human cost of the conflict, stating that a million people have been killed or wounded. He questioned what idea could justify such destruction “in the centre of Europe”.
The Nobel laureate also drew attention to the escalating repression within Russia, where he described the Federal Security Service (FSB) as functioning as the party, parliament, and government all in one. He said that fear of Putin is reinforced by his core electorate within the security services.
Muratov estimated that there are over 1,500 political prisoners in Russia, including journalists, artists, and a 70-year-old pediatrician. He noted that not a single political prisoner has been released in two years.
The crackdown on independent media has effectively silenced his own publication. Muratov explained that the newspaper’s printing houses were nationalised by decree and its website registration revoked.
“We are of course no longer a media outlet,” he admitted, adding that the offices were raided by police for 13 hours just three months ago and 12 staff members were called in for questioning last week.
Despite the threats, Muratov said he finds support from ordinary people. He said that on the streets of Moscow, his colleagues hear words of gratitude, “spoken in a whisper, but what people think is very important”.
Be First to Comment