Russian Propagandist Calls for Attacks on NATO Amid Maritime Dispute

Vladimir Solovyov, a Russian propagandist, made headlines during a broadcast segment where he threatened NATO with aggression. Julia Davis, a journalist for Russia Media Monitor, shared a clip from Solovyov’s show Full Contact on social media. She noted that his remarks seemed too radical even for his typically lenient Kremlin handlers.

Solovyov’s comments followed the seizure of a Russian ship by Norwegian authorities. This happened in the Svalbard archipelago at the request of Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz. In response, Solovyov called for Russian troops to move to the border with NATO-member Norway. He also suggested severing ties with Germany and the EU, stating, “We spit on NATO, bomb the hell out of it.”

Davis highlighted that while part of Solovyov’s three-hour broadcast aired live, segments were missing from state media websites. The video, marked as “deleted broadcast, recorded live,” appeared on yapolitic.ru, a Russian media site. Newsweek has reached out to Solovyov Live for comment.

Solovyov aligns with President Vladimir Putin, framing the Ukraine conflict as a proxy war with NATO. He often calls for attacks on the West, including nuclear strikes, though these do not always reflect Kremlin policies.

During Full Contact, Solovyov claimed a new threat was arising from Western ideology, which he termed “European Nazism” and “Satanism.” The Kremlin has used similar language, claiming a need for “denazification” to justify its Ukraine invasion, a rationale rejected internationally.

Solovyov also responded to accusations of Russian involvement in a thwarted terror plot in Germany. German officials linked Russia to a drone with explosives found near Leipzig/Halle Airport, describing it as part of broader Russian hybrid operations. Solovyov dismissed these claims, urging for diplomatic break with the EU and called the incident “laughable.”

According to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), Germany faced the highest number of Russian hybrid operations in 2025, with 35 out of 82 events in Western Europe. Joel Crisetig, an ACLED analyst, noted heightened Russian hybrid warfare on Germany.

The dispute intensified when Norway seized the Russian ship Professor Molchanov, acting on a Ukrainian request. This followed an arbitration ruling ordering compensation for Naftogaz due to Crimea annexation by Russia in 2014. Solovyov labeled Norwegian actions as piracy and urged military intervention, including the use of aviation if needed.