Dmitry Muratov, the Russian journalist awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, told the BBC that President Vladimir Putin’s ambition to subjugate Ukraine has become impossible, and that the war can only result in the country’s devastation. The comments, delivered in an exclusive interview with BBC correspondent Steve Rosenberg, come as the conflict marks its fifth year.
Muratov’s assessment of the war
The Nobel laureate said Putin can no longer claim any form of victory in Ukraine. He argued that the Kremlin’s military campaign has shifted from an attempt at conquest to a process of widespread destruction, leaving the notion of a successful annexation unattainable.
Implications for Moscow’s narrative
Muratov’s remarks challenge the narrative that the Russian leadership has repeatedly promoted, which frames the war as a justified and potentially victorious endeavour. By stating that the conflict can only “destroy” Ukraine, he underscores a stark contrast between official rhetoric and the realities on the ground after five years of fighting.
The interview, described by the BBC as exclusive, highlights Muratov’s continued willingness to speak openly about the humanitarian and political fallout of the war, despite the risks faced by independent journalists in Russia.
“The Kremlin leader can only *destroy Ukraine, not conquer it*,” Muratov told the BBC.
According to the BBC, Muratov’s assessment reflects a broader sense of fatigue and disillusionment among those who have observed the prolonged conflict. He did not provide specific casualty figures or territorial changes, focusing instead on the fundamental impossibility of a Russian victory under current conditions.
The interview arrives at a time when the international community remains divided over how to respond to the ongoing war. While no new diplomatic initiatives were announced, Muratov’s condemnation adds a prominent voice to calls for a resolution that acknowledges the extensive damage inflicted on Ukraine.
As the war enters its fifth year, Muratov’s statement serves as a stark reminder that the conflict’s trajectory appears to be moving away from any realistic prospect of conquest and toward continued devastation for the Ukrainian people.
