Russian Army Threatens Kremlin Amid Escalating Conflict

Rising Dissent Among Russian Troops

As Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, the conflict has taken a heavy toll on both the country and its military. With a deepening fuel crisis and nearly half a million soldiers lost, there is a growing sense of exhaustion among some troops. This sentiment has led to an increase in dissent within the ranks, with several high-profile cases highlighting the discontent.

In June this year, Russian soldier Alexander Lunin made a public appeal on social media, threatening President Vladimir Putin with a military coup. This was the first significant threat of its kind since Yevgeny Prigozhin’s failed mutiny in 2023. In a video that gained over 10 million views, Lunin stated, “The army will turn its weapons against the Kremlin.” He also demanded a meeting with Putin to address what he described as the systemic mistreatment of Russian soldiers.

Lunin’s message was met with immediate consequences. After publishing his appeal, he was detained and charged with “demonstrating extremist symbols.” Following his release on July 10, he recorded another video apologizing to Putin, signaling a shift in his stance.

Pro-Kremlin Voices Turn Against Putin

Another pro-Kremlin figure, known for attacking opposition leader Alexei Navalny, also expressed criticism of Putin earlier this year. Blogger Ilya Remeslo published a series of posts in March, stating that the Russian leader was “not a legitimate president” and should resign and face trial as a “war criminal and thief.”

Remeslo’s comments led to his detention by Russian authorities on suspicion of spreading “false information” about the armed forces. This offense was introduced shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. If convicted, Remeslo could face up to 10 years in prison.

Declining Recruitment and High Desertion Rates

The Russian army is also struggling with recruitment. Katya Bonch-Osmolovskaya, head of the data team at iStories, a Russian investigative outlet in exile, noted that figures were already lower at the end of 2025, and they remained much the same at the beginning of 2026. She mentioned a 20% drop in recruitment compared to the same period last year, which she described as “pretty significant.”

Meanwhile, even soldiers currently fighting in the war are leaving in large numbers. Russia has reported high rates of desertions and soldiers going AWOL, with estimates from 2025 indicating around 50,000 cases. Additionally, approximately 28,000 soldiers have been convicted for going AWOL.

Some soldiers have even expressed a desire to be captured by Ukraine rather than continue serving in the army. According to Russian independent media outlet Mediazona, deserters have told the outlet they would “rather be in prison” than fight in the war.

Falling Approval Ratings

Putin’s approval rating is reportedly declining sharply. State-controlled pollster The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) stopped publishing Putin’s “open” trust rating after it reached its lowest level since the start of the full-scale war, according to the Moscow Times on June 8.