Vladimir Putin 'Will Be Overthrown' In 2026: Kremlin Propagandist Turns On Russian Leader

Vladimir Putin 'will be overthrown' in 2026 and should face trial as a 'war criminal and a thief', according to a once‑loyal Kremlin propagandist in Moscow who has publicly turned on the Russian president and declared his rule is collapsing.

The claims come from Ilya Remeslo, a 42‑year‑old lawyer long known in Russia as a hardline supporter of the full‑scale invasion of Ukraine and a regular presence on state television.

Vladimir Putin And The Insider Revolt He May Not Ignore

In remarks that stunned Russian political circles, Remeslo said the president is 'becoming weaker and weaker, year after year', and insisted there are 'clear signs of an approaching collapse of the system'. He argued that Putin's refusal to tolerate serious rivals will ultimately bring down his rule.

'There are already clear signs of an approaching collapse of the system. Because Putin is afraid to surround himself with worthy rivals, people who could genuinely compete with him, he will lose power. This will most likely happen this year, in 2026,' he said.

Remeslo framed his about‑face as a painful admission from someone who once believed in Putin's project. He recalled supporting the 2014 annexation of Crimea 'precisely because it was bloodless', saying many Russians then saw Putin as a 'unifier of Russian lands'. The war in Ukraine, he suggested, has shattered that image.

'And here's where we've ended up – bloody assaults, deception of contract soldiers, and much else, as any participant in the Special Military Operation will confirm,' he said, using the Kremlin's own term for the invasion before turning it against the leadership. He described an 'absolutely deadlocked war' with 'huge losses' that could drag on 'another five to ten years'.

The lawyer put a number on those losses, claiming the conflict had produced up to two million casualties.

Putin Loyalist Now Demanding Prosecution

In a statement that circulated widely inside Russia, Remeslo said, 'Vladimir Putin is not a legitimate president. Vladimir Putin must resign and be prosecuted as a war criminal and a thief.'

He accused the Kremlin of wasting 'trillions of dollars that we could have used to build cities, schools, children's hospitals, and completely overhaul the housing and utilities sector'. Instead, he said, the authorities are 'mostly building the president's and his friends' palaces'.

The once‑staunch supporter said Putin and his inner circle had 'gone mad', pointing to long‑standing poverty in what he called 'the richest country', where 'tens of millions of people are poor'.

According to his account, the authorities are now 'depriving people of their basic rights' while pushing the opposition 'abroad, or completely underground' and branding critics as 'foreign agents'.

A President 'On The Throne Until 150'

One of the sharpest parts of his critique focused on digital repression. Remeslo said the current restrictions on mobile internet, particularly in Moscow and at the front, amounted to a betrayal of a personal promise Putin allegedly made to him in 2017 not to follow China's heavily controlled model.

'Putin then replied that we wouldn't follow the Chinese path – and he lied,' he claimed. He argued that 'mobile internet doesn't even work in major Russian cities' and that 'all Western social networks and messengers are blocked'.

He said Telegram is already 'blocked at 80%' and alleged that a 'full block is planned for April 1', though this timetable has not been confirmed by independent reporting.

In his telling, Russians are being 'herded' into using a state‑approved messaging platform called Max, which he said is owned by a member of Putin's family and allows the FSB security service to monitor communication.

Remeslo also mocked the president's longevity and grip on power. He noted that ex‑KGB officer Putin will turn 74 this year and has ruled since 1999, then quipped that he 'plans to stay on the throne until he's 150 at least', alluding to what he described as Putin's obsession with medical procedures.

Quoting the old maxim that 'absolute power corrupts absolutely', he argued that even a 'morally flawless person' would be deformed by such an arrangement and that 'Putin wasn't always like he is now'. In his view, a turning point came after 2003, when 'many of us supported him' but 'everything has its limits'. Russia now needed 'a new modern president', he said.

'Long Live Freedom': Shock Inside The System

Remeslo went further, accusing Putin of craving 'endless wars – in which his children and relatives don't participate' and dismissing the president's televised call‑in shows as a 'complete circus' detached from the country's problems.

He rejected official rhetoric that the West is preparing a Third World War against Russia as 'preposterous', insisting 'no one is calling for war against Russia' and that the current conflict is fought 'solely for Putin's ego complexes'.

He said, 'Putin is afraid of participating in debates, honest elections – because then it would immediately become clear that the king is naked. Conclusion: Vladimir Putin is not a legitimate president. Vladimir Putin must resign and be prosecuted as a war criminal and a thief. Long live freedom.'

The Telegram politics channel Nezygar reported that his outburst caused 'shock' among senior officials, who recognised that Remeslo had previously been 'closely aligned with security structures'. The channel quoted one source as saying his 'radical reaction is a signal of rising anxiety and tension, which in turn fuels further radicalism'.

Remeslo taunted the security services by stressing that he remains in Moscow and has not fled abroad, challenging the state to respond to his accusations. After some observers speculated that his social media accounts might have been hacked, he released a video to confirm the comments were his.