Ex-Soldier Issues Ultimatum to Putin: Meet or Face an Army Revolt
Junior Sergeant Aleksandr Lunin, a veteran of the war in Ukraine, has demanded a live-broadcast meeting with Vladimir Putin, threatening a military uprising against the Kremlin if his ultimatum is...
Junior Sergeant Aleksandr Lunin, a veteran of the war in Ukraine, has demanded a live-broadcast meeting with Vladimir Putin, threatening a military uprising against the Kremlin if his ultimatum is ignored.
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The Ultimatum and the Kremlin’s Response
In a video posted to Instagram on Thursday, June 25, 39-year-old Junior Sergeant Aleksandr Lunin, a veteran from the Voronezh region, demanded a live-streamed meeting with the Russian leader. He claims he intends to reveal the “whole truth” about the current situation in the country. Failure to comply, he warned, would lead to a military rebellion.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed the video on Friday, stating that while they were aware of the appeal, they had not yet reviewed its contents in detail. Peskov noted that the address appeared to contain “quite strange formulations,” warranting further internal examination.
Allegations of Mistreatment and Corruption
Lunin claims he was approached by high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Defense and security services who allegedly urged him to relay these concerns to Putin. He alleges that thousands of soldiers are being held in earth pits and subjected to torture for refusing to carry out “suicidal orders” or failing to pay bribes to their commanders.
The former soldier emphasized that if he is not granted a platform to speak directly to the President, the consequences will be “very serious,” adding that the army may “point its weapons against the Kremlin.”
Contentious Evidence from the Frontline
Lunin was dismissed from the military in 2025 following the publication of footage showing soldiers sent on combat missions without weapons. Since March, he has actively published over 700 videos on his social media platforms, citing information provided by active-duty soldiers.
He describes the materials provided by his comrades as “terrible footage.” Lunin maintains that his objective for seeking a meeting with Putin is to personally present this evidence to the Russian leadership.