Communist Lawmaker Slams ‘Out-of-Touch’ War Management Ahead of Fall Duma Elections

June 12, 2026 Wikimedia Commons A lawmaker from Russia’s systemic opposition has broken ranks and issued a scathing criticism of the Kremlin’s mismanagement of its war in Ukraine, saying the war risks plunging the country into social upheaval. Vyacheslav Markhayev, a member of the State Duma’s second-largest faction, the Communist Party, wrote a blistering online post as the country gears up to hold parliamentary elections this September. “The same team has been running the political system for a quarter of a century now, and they seem to have completely lost touch with the needs of regular people,” Markhayev said. He compared the ruling elite’s entrenched corruption, the oligarchs’ continued enrichment and growing wealth gap to a “foreign invader” seeking to “seize resources, plunder the manufacturing sector, jack up utility rates and build personal mansions.” “But there was no invasion, the authorities managed to do all of this on their own more effectively than any foreign aggressor ever could,” Markhayev said. He slammed the Kremlin for shifting goals in its war in Ukraine, as well as “taking it” as Russia’s young male population dies on the battlefield and Ukrainian attacks reach deeper and deeper inside Russian territory. “If this situation continues, a social explosion and total chaos will become highly likely,” Markhayev wrote, warning that “all responsibility will be borne by the irremovable authorities.” “We need a clear public plan for ending the [special military operation] based on Russia’s national interests,” he said, using the official term for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Markhayev, 71, is up for re-election after his third term ends in September. Despite his rare public critique, source-based independent media reporting has indicated that the Communist Party does not intend to put forward strong candidates that would have posed a challenge to the ruling United Russia party. Read more about: Communist Party , Ukraine war , State Duma Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Kremlin Exempts Duma Deputies Visiting War Zone From Filing Tax Returns State Duma deputies visiting occupied Ukraine on official business will not have to submit tax returns this year. 1 Min read Russian Lawmakers Approve Punishments for Criticism, 'Fake' Info on Mercenaries Spreading information deemed to be "fake" about volunteer and private military groups fighting in Ukraine will soon be a crime. 2 Min read Feature ‘Everyone's Tired’: Acceptance and Exasperation in Russian Elite as Invasion Anniversary Looms The Moscow Times spoke with more than a dozen top officials to gauge the mood as the country appears increasingly bogged down in Ukraine. 4 Min read Russian Lawmakers to Consider Seizing Exiled War Critics’ Property Russian lawmakers will consider confiscating the property of citizens abroad who speak out against Russia’s war in Ukraine and donate to the Ukrainian...