Senior Russian officials are tamping down speculation that the war in Ukraine could turn into a nuclear conflict, but on state television propagandists are promoting a different message, complete with visual representations depicting Russian nuclear attacks against European capitals.

On Sunday night, the pro-Kremlin TV host Dmitry Kiselyov said Russia could easily wipe out Britain, according to a translated video clip posted by a member of the BBC News’s specialist media monitoring service.

Responding to statements by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Kiselyov asked, “Why threaten never-ending Russia with nuclear weapons when you’re on an island which, you know, is so small?”

Illustrating his point, a map contrasted the expanse of Russia with the British Isles, and then showed a simulation of a missile launched from north-western Russia, striking Britain.