Russian President Vladimir Putin can no longer claim victory in the ongoing war in Ukraine regardless of how the conflict ends, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov said in an exclusive interview with the BBC. Speaking from the Moscow offices of his newspaper, Muratov emphasized that while Russian forces may possess the military capacity to destroy Ukrainian infrastructure, conquering the Ukrainian people remains an impossible objective. The observations come amidst an unprecedented domestic crackdown on free speech across Russia, according to reports confirmed by Reuters and BBC News.
Muratov co-founded Novaya Gazeta more than 30 years ago, transforming the publication into Russia`s primary vehicle for investigative reporting on corruption and human rights abuses. His dedication to press freedom earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, an honor he dedicated to six Novaya Gazeta journalists murdered in the line of duty. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin intensified censorship legislation, resulting in the nationalization of Novaya Gazeta`s printing presses and the revocation of its publishing license. Russian readers can now access the outlet`s digital coverage only through virtual private networks.
Reflecting on the domestic political climate, the veteran journalist stated that state suppression of political dissent has surpassed levels seen during the Soviet KGB era. Conservative estimates indicate that at least 1,500 people have been imprisoned in Russia for opposing the state`s military actions in Ukraine. Public figures, analysts, and civil society leaders who criticize official policies are systematically designated as foreign agents, extremists, or terrorists by authorities. The current scale of political detainment far exceeds figures recorded by human rights groups during the mid-1980s in the Soviet Union.
Addressing the potential escalation of the conflict, Muratov expressed serious concern over the frequent discussion of nuclear weapons within official Russian media circles. State television programs and public forums have referenced nuclear deployment more than 500 times since the beginning of the year. While dismissing predictions from political commentators about Putin`s personal state of mind, Muratov stressed that normalising nuclear rhetoric at state-sponsored events represents a dangerous trajectory for international security.
The conflict has resulted in more than one million casualties across both nations, devastating communities and destroying families. Muratov noted that calling such immense human destruction a victory remains a moral impossibility. Demonstrating his commitment to humanitarian relief, Muratov previously auctioned his Nobel medal for 103.5 million dollars to support Ukrainian refugees displaced by the violence. What remains unclear is whether independent journalism inside Russia can survive as state censorship mechanisms continue to tighten across all media platforms.
