The petition, published by Xenia Torstrrem, an MP in St. Petersburg’s Semyonovsky district, was initially signed by 19 officials. “We, the municipal deputies of Russia, believe that the actions of President Vladimir Putin harm the future of Russia and its citizens,” reads the translation of the petition. “We demand the resignation of Vladimir Putin from the position of President of the Russian Federation!” The report comes as the Ukrainian military pursues a counteroffensive, quickly regaining ground and pushing Russian troops back to the northeastern border in some places. The initial gains of the push have drawn some criticism of Putin at home, a rare rebuke of Russia’s longtime leader who has over the years tried to stifle opposition. The petition was signed mainly by municipal deputies serving in Moscow and St. Petersburg, although signatories also include officials from cities such as Samara and Yakutsk. It comes after Russia at the weekend held the country’s first elections since the start of the war. Voters cast ballots to elect more than 31,000 officials across the country, although the Kremlin opposition has alleged fraud and fraud. The report potentially puts municipal lawmakers at risk, given the Kremlin’s law criminalizing the publication of “fake news” about the war, which Putin refers to as a “special military operation.” Violators face up to 15 years in prison, and Russian officials have cracked down on dissidents since troops invaded Ukraine in February. But as Russia faces fresh casualties from the Ukrainian counteroffensive, some Russian military bloggers and patriotic commentators have criticized the Kremlin for failing to take stronger action. “People who convinced President Putin that the operation will be fast and efficient … these people really set us all up,” former Russian parliament member Boris Nadezhdin told state broadcaster NTV. Ally Putin calls Russian retreat in Ukraine ‘amazing’ Biden pledges to improve aging US airports The counteroffensive has also boosted Ukraine’s morale, but it remains unclear whether the operation will mark a turning point in the conflict. “The road to victory is difficult,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily address on Sunday. “But we are sure: you are capable of it,” he continued. “You will reach our borders, in all departments. You will see our borders and the backs of the enemies. You will see the gleam of the eyes of our people and the heels of the conquerors. They will call it “goodwill gestures”. We’ll call it a victory.”
