Influencer Warns Putin, Says Russians Could Soon Erupt

The Kremlin acknowledged sharp public criticism after a prominent influencer warned President Vladimir Putin that growing pressure on Russians could spark unrest. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 25, 2026. (Photo by MAXIM SHIPENKOV / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google The Kremlin publicly acknowledged sharp criticism of Russian authorities after a prominent social media influencer warned President Vladimir Putin that mounting pressure on ordinary Russians could one day trigger unrest, Reuters reported on Thursday. The criticism appeared on Tuesday, when Viktoria Bonya, a celebrity blogger and former reality TV personality, posted a video appeal to Putin that drew more than 20 million views on Instagram , despite the platform being officially banned in Russia. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “Vladimir Vladimirovich, they’re afraid of you. The people are afraid of you; bloggers, artists are afraid; governors are afraid of you. But you are the president of our country. I don’t think we should be afraid of you,” said Bonya In the video, Bonya said she supports Putin but accused lawmakers and officials of misinforming him about the country’s real problems, arguing that heavy pressure on the population is pushing society toward a breaking point. “You know what the risk is? That people will stop being afraid,” Bonya said, describing Russians as being “squeezed into a coiled spring.” When asked about the video, Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Kremlin had seen it and acknowledged its popularity. “It touches on many topics,” Peskov said, adding that work was underway to address the issues raised. The remarks come amid reported dissatisfaction over mobile internet shutdowns and a renewed push to restrict access to the Telegram messaging app and other various social media platforms. Other Topics of Interest Lithuania Begins Trial Into Russia-Linked Blasts Investigators believe those recruited mostly comprised poorer people living in Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Latvia. Some Kremlin critics suggested the video may have been tolerated or coordinated to allow public grievances to be aired ahead of parliamentary elections later this year. Reuters noted that the appeal reflects a recurring narrative in Russian political culture portraying Putin as a leader kept in the dark by officials beneath him. Veronika Sukhanych is a political analyst with a foundation in governance, legal research, and international policy. Kyiv-born and educated in comparative politics, her background includes research on global financial institutions, responsible AI governance, and security policy.