Something is beginning to unfold on the front line that, until very recently, seemed almost unimaginable.
As difficult as it may be to admit, throughout much of Vladimir Putin’s rule, circumstances repeatedly worked in his favor. High oil prices, Western hesitation in fulfilling the commitments associated with the Budapest Memorandum, and a series of other factors allowed the system to preserve itself time and again. Every new crisis seemed only to reinforce its stability.
Yet there is one reality that cannot be erased by censorship.
Political opponents can be smeared, isolated from society, and imprisoned through a law enforcement and judicial system that is entirely under state control. But it is impossible to deceive everyone forever. Propaganda may persuade people to go to war, but it loses its power when the promises made on television collide with the reality experienced firsthand.
Especially when people begin to see with their own eyes a system in which human life becomes expendable, and war itself turns into a source of money, promotions, and careers for some at the cost of the lives and destinies of others.
That is why signs are increasingly emerging that, until recently, would have seemed unthinkable. What was once whispered behind closed doors is gradually entering the public sphere.
One of the most striking examples is the public appeal made by Alexander Lunin, the former reconnaissance squad commander of the Sudoplatov Volunteer Battalion.
According to Lunin, senior representatives of the Ministry of Defense and Russia’s security services approached him and asked him to convey to Vladimir Putin what is really happening on the front line. Lunin, in turn, demanded a personal meeting with the President and the opportunity to speak alongside him during a live national broadcast.
Otherwise, Lunin issued an unprecedented warning:
“If I am not allowed to come to the Kremlin and speak live beside you in the near future, the army will turn its weapons against the Kremlin.”
According to Lunin, these statements stem from the conditions faced by Russian servicemen themselves. He claims that dozens, hundreds, and even thousands of soldiers are being held in makeshift detention sites controlled by their own commanders. There, he alleges, they are subjected to torture, abuse, and humiliation.
He further claims that soldiers are sent to such places not only for refusing what he describes as “senseless suicidal orders,” but also for refusing to pay money to their commanders. According to Lunin, some of those punished later disappear and are officially declared missing in action.
Lunin also describes what he says is a rapidly deteriorating atmosphere within the armed forces. According to him, frustration among military personnel has reached such a level that continuing to ignore these problems could eventually lead to an internal armed confrontation.
“If soldiers turn their weapons toward the Kremlin now, the country will descend into a bloodbath.”
Lunin also addressed those who, in his view, might attempt to silence him. He declared that any attack against him or members of his family would be regarded as a signal to begin further actions.
Whether Lunin’s claims about contacts with senior officials from the Ministry of Defense and Russia’s security services are accurate cannot currently be verified independently. Nevertheless, the very appearance of such public statements from someone who participated in combat reflects a level of tension within the military that is being discussed more openly than ever before.
Considering that Vladimir Putin has consistently shown little willingness to retreat and instead often responds to setbacks by raising the stakes, hoping that his opponent will yield first, there appear to be only two broad scenarios ahead.
Either society continues to accept repeated waves of mobilization—often carried out without sufficient equipment, training, or logistical support—or some of those who have already been given weapons may eventually refuse to continue supporting a system they believe has deceived them.
History offers examples of similar moments. The rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin was itself something that only a short time earlier had seemed almost impossible. For that reason, it would be premature to dismiss the possibility of another internal crisis entirely.
One can only hope that, if such a moment ever comes, those holding weapons will show more humanity than those who gave them the orders.
Source: Telegram channel “Don’t Expect Good News”
https://t.me/ne_zhdi_novosti/6737