Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. For tens of millions of television viewers across Russia’s 11 time zones, Sunday night means tuning in to watch Dmitry Kiselyov. The country’s most influential news anchor, Kiselyov has for over a decade interpreted world events for the nation, as Walter Cronkite or Dan Rather once did for the U.S.
His weekly current affairs show, “News of the Week," at first glance seems similar to any news bulletin on CNN or the BBC, with its tense intro music and opening sequence showing a large ticking clock. The message he broadcasts is anything but. There are breathless updates on Russia’s military advances, with cinematic shots of jet fighters pounding Ukrainian towns.
Clips from pride parades in San Francisco are shown as evidence the U.S. verges on collapse. Kiselyov recently struck a positive note on President Trump, echoing the Kremlin, but warned that his tariff threats might torpedo Russia’s good will toward him.
One recent report began with an apocalyptic warning to the West: Russia won’t hesitate to use nuclear bombs if it feels threatened. Footage of President Vladimir Putin addressing Kremlin officials was interspersed with clips of missiles flying through the air. “Don’t complain later," Kiselyov intoned in his trademark raspy voice.
“Don’t tell us that we didn’t warn you." Russia has blocked Western social-media platforms and driven independent journalists into exile, entrenching TV’s role as the country’s primary news source. As Putin deepens ties with U.S. adversaries and angles for a Ukraine peace deal with Trump that would leave swaths of land under Russian control, Kiselyov helps ensure that ordinary Russians are kept onside.
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