Dmitry Muratov, a Russian journalist and Nobel Prize winner, issues a nuclear warning

Dmitry Muratov, the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta and Russia's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is worried about how far the Kremlin will go in its confrontation with the West. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow's nuclear sabre-rattling has been loud and frequent. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and one of his closest aides warned that Russia had a "modern unique weapon capable of destroying any enemy, including the United States". State propaganda is preparing people to think that nuclear war isn't a bad thing, and on TV channels, nuclear war and nuclear weapons are promoted as if they're advertising pet food. A prominent talk-show host suggested that Russia should declare any military target on the territory of France, Poland and the United Kingdom a legitimate target for Russia.

However, state propaganda portrays Russia as a country of peace, and Ukraine and the West as the aggressors. Mr Muratov, a Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner, believes that the only hope for normal relations between the people of Russia and Ukraine is the young generation. He believes that this generation is well-educated and that many of those who have left the country are against what is happening in Ukraine. He is convinced that as soon as the propaganda stops, this generation and everyone else with common sense will speak out. He has auctioned off his Nobel Peace prize to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees, but has little optimism about the future.

He believes that political repression will continue against all opponents of the regime, and that the only hope lies with the young generation. He hopes that this generation will outlive him and Putin.