Kremlin Aware of Viral Video Threatening Armed Uprising Over Alleged Abuses in Army

June 26, 2026 A man identifying himself on social media as Alexander Lunin. Screen capture / Instagram The Kremlin said Friday it was aware of, but had not yet seen, a viral video featuring a Russian man identifying himself as a Ukraine war veteran who threatened to stage an armed uprising unless President Vladimir Putin met with him to discuss the alleged abuse of soldiers by military commanders. In the video, which has garnered millions of views on social media, a man in military uniform identifying himself as Alexander Lunin asked for an audience with Putin to “tell the whole truth” about the mistreatment of Russian troops. In a second Instagram video published Thursday, Lunin reiterated his demands to be received by the president. “If I don’t arrive at the Kremlin in the near future and speak live on the air right next to you, the army will turn its weapons against the Kremlin,” Lunin warned. “I’m merely passing along the message,” he added, claiming that high-ranking Defense Ministry and security officials had allegedly asked him to film the statement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a daily briefing on Friday that he had heard about the video but that neither Putin nor the presidential administration “had a chance” to watch it yet. “Judging by your description, the phrasing sounds rather bizarre. We need to see it first,” Peskov said. Independent Russian media outlets verified Lunin’s identity, reporting that he is a 39-year-old Ukraine war veteran from the Voronezh region in southern Russia. Lunin allegedly went by the surname Pustovalov until legally changing it in 2023, after which he was reportedly removed from Russia’s official list of “extremists.” Read more about: Russian military 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 At Least 10 Ex-Convicts Flee Army Base in Rostov Region — Reports The men were reported missing after failing to appear for uniform distribution on Friday morning, an anonymous police source told journalists. 1 Min read Russian Strikes on Ukraine Wound 31 Twenty-nine people were wounded in the industrial city of Zaporizhzhia and two others in the Dnipropetrovsk region, officials said. 1 Min read Russia Detains Man Suspected of Killing General – FSB A senior Russian general was killed in a car bombing near Moscow, with Russia claiming it captured a Ukrainian agent responsible for the attack. 1 Min read Russian Diplomats Make First Syria Visit Since Assad’s Fall The visit comes as Moscow looks to secure the fate of its bases in Tartus and Khmeimim. 3 Min read