One of Vladimir Putin’s chief propagandists has cautioned the Russian populace to prepare for the potential end of the world. Alexander Dugin, a 64-year-old ultra-nationalist philosopher known for shaping the Kremlin’s ideology, recently made remarks that were widely interpreted as a veiled warning about the escalating risk of nuclear conflict.
In a doomsday-themed online statement, Dugin, often referred to as “Putin’s brain” or “Putin’s Rasputin,” urged all non-baptized Russians to seek immediate baptism and encouraged those who do not attend church to start doing so in anticipation of an afterlife in paradise. He emphasized the urgency of these actions, suggesting that the moment for such decisions may be fleeting and stressing the importance of faith for survival in uncertain times.
While not explicitly mentioning nuclear weapons, Dugin’s foreboding rhetoric aligns with the way Kremlin-linked ideologues typically frame nuclear war: as a definitive rupture with the West that leaves only faith as a beacon of hope in its aftermath.
In a chilling tone, Dugin emphasized the fleeting nature of freedom and the need to turn to the Savior for salvation without delay. The philosopher’s daughter, Darya Dugina, a prominent pro-Kremlin commentator, was tragically killed in a car bombing near Moscow in August 2022, with Russian authorities suspecting that her father was the intended target and attributing the attack to a Ukrainian assassination plot.
These developments follow a recent threat issued by Russian lawmaker Alexei Zhuravlev in response to the capture of the Russian-affiliated oil tanker Marinera. Zhuravlev called on Putin to retaliate against the UK and US for the operation, advocating for aggressive measures such as torpedo attacks and the sinking of American Coast Guard vessels. The lawmaker condemned the seizure of the tanker as an act of piracy and argued that a firm and swift response, potentially involving nuclear weapons, was warranted under Russia’s military doctrine.
Furthermore, Moscow reportedly launched a nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile near Lviv, located just 40 miles from NATO territory in Poland. The hypersonic missile, traveling at an estimated speed of 8,000mph, was allegedly aimed at a strategic gas storage facility on the outskirts of Lviv. The missile strike, which produced vivid flashes illuminating the night sky, raised concerns about the potential use of advanced ballistic weapons and escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
The Russian Defence Ministry later confirmed the missile strike, attributing it to an alleged Ukrainian plot to assassinate Putin at his residence in the Novgorod region. Western intelligence agencies and Ukrainian authorities have refuted these claims, emphasizing the destabilizing impact of such military actions on European security.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha denounced the missile strike as a significant threat to European security and a test for international cooperation. Sybiha underscored the need for a united response to such provocations, highlighting the risks posed by escalating military confrontations in the region.