Putin's top propagandists openly talk of Russia losing to Ukraine and being tried in Hague

© Russia1 Russian TV hosts discuss the outcome of 'losing the war' in Ukraine

Russian TV hosts Margarita Simonyan and Vladimir Solovyov openly speculated on the aftermath of a defeat of Russia in Ukraine for Vladimir Putin's inner circle. Simonyan's chilling monologue referenced the war crimes trials at the Hague for the Russian leadership. At the same time, Solovyov boasted that the world would be "turned to ash" hinting at a nuclear strike before the Kremlin would concede defeat.

Simonyan told Russia1: "They are getting ready to take our Crimea. We're doing the only thing we can do in this situation, we are bombing.

"We are bombing every day, we are bombing infrastructure.

"God knows we didn't want this, no one wanted this you and I didn't want this. I know the leadership didn't want this either.

"There again, we are kind, polite and at times meek. We are such softies, so kind, trusting, and meek, but should we be?

© Russia1 Russia TV host Vladimir Solovyov

Russia and the West are locked in a "potentially deadly game of hunter and hunted" which adds up to a "new Battle of the Atlantic", an expert in naval warfare has warned.

What could it mean for the future of Europe and the war in Ukraine?

"Right now, when we see that the infrastructure is being destroyed every day. The infrastructure that helps Ukraine to fight, to kill our people, on the territories that are now ours.

"I am amazed by our people, and I, unfortunately, know many of them, including those in very high circles, who are afraid of this and are afraid to call things as they are, because of what people over there may think."

Simonyan continued: "We could spit on what they'll think over there.

"People who are afraid of the Hague, listen you should be afraid to lose, to be humiliated and be afraid to betray your people."

"Let me tell you that if we manage to lose, the Hague, whether real or hypothetical, will even come for a street cleaner who sweeps the cobblestone behind the Kremlin."

"Whether one more Kyiv district is without electricity won't change the magnitude of the catastrophe that will befall our country if we manage to do this.

"It's unimaginable."

"If you're afraid of the Hague, stay out of the forest."

Solovyov added "There won't be any Hague if this happens.

Simonyan agreed "There won't be anything at all."

Solovyov concluded: "The whole world will be turned to ashes."