No Victory for Putin in Ukraine, Says Nobel Peace Prize Winner

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Moscow: Dmitry Muratov, the Nobel Prize Peace Prize-winner journalist, has told the BBC that Russian President Vladimir Putin can no longer claim success in Ukraine, stating that the nearly five-year conflict has made any sense of Russian victory unavoidable.

In an interview with BBC correspondent, the former editor of independent daily Novaya Gazeta, warned Russia might theoretically destroy but not conquer Ukraine. He cautioned that further escalation could increase the likelihood of nuclear weapons being utilised.

Muratov also criticised Russia for continuing to portray the fight as a victorious military operation. He questioned if Russia became safer after the war, citing Ukrainian drone assaults, mobile internet disruptions, and internal financial difficulties.

The journalist, who won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to protect freedom of expression, stated that the war also contributed to oppression in Russia. He said that at least 1,500 people were currently imprisoned for opposing government policy, while hundreds of dissidents were dubbed ‘foreign agents,’ ‘extremists,’ or ‘terrorists.’

Muratov stated that Putin maintained a firm grip on power, with dread of the Kremlin bolstered by Russia's security agencies. He was especially concerned about the lack of international attention to Russian political prisoners who opposed the invasion.