Russian State TV Host Slams His Own Staff After Questions Over His Heroism

Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov delivered an angry on-air tirade in which he demanded that deserting Russian soldiers be shot and slammed his staff for allowing him to receive audience correspondence that questioned his valor.

On his radio show Full Contact (Polniy Kontakt), the ally of Vladimir Putin appeared annoyed at how some of the materials that his production team had provided him were in English and not translated, "Can you simply carry out what I ask?" he said.

The ill humor he felt for his team was then directed at those in the Russian army who abandon their combat positions in Ukraine.

The television host and radio presenter said that deserters among Russian troops could be dealt with if the Russia's moratorium on the death penalty were canceled. "I believe that the highest form of defending the nation is vitally necessary, meaning the death penalty," he said, which would involve military field trials and tribunals and execution by shooting.

"Cowards should be able to atone their guilt with blood," he said, because "we need ironclad discipline in the army."

"If an officer leaves his unit, execute him by shooting," Solovyov added, taking aim at the "sissiness" he felt some troops were demonstrating.

"You have a weapon in your hands, the enemy is over there. Why did you abandon your position?" he said.

While fear may be natural, Solovyov said that "what sets a man apart is his ability to overcome" such a feeling. He then switched his anger towards his "sleeping" staff who had allowed comments from audience members he disagreed with.

"I thought I told you to ban that fool Elena33" he said in another swipe. He then read out a comment from a listener named Konstantin who told him to "show your heroism on the frontline."

"I went there more than once, where are you?" Solvoyov said, without specifying in which capacity he had visited Ukraine.

The segment was tweeted by Russia watcher Julia Davis who wrote that Solovyov is "demanding the death penalty for Russian servicemen who abandon their military positions."

She added: "He is also demanding for his staff to ban any online users who ask him to show his own heroism on the frontlines."

In another show this week, Solovyov, 59, castigated those who had left Russia and avoided the draft.

He also claimed that he had sacrificed his Lake Como villa to stay in Russia. It was one of three properties he owned in Italy that had been seized by authorities after he was sanctioned for his links to Putin.