Rogue Russian journalist posts series of anti-war stories on pro-Kremlin newspaper website before apologising to Ukrainians for ‘vile’ invasion and branding Putin an ‘ego-maniac’
- Vladimir Romanenko has worked for Russia’s leading newspaper for five months
- He quit dramatically by posting anti-war stories while safely located in Georgia
- READ MORE: Death rate of Russian soldiers at its highest since first week of war
A Russian journalist posted a collection of anti-war stories on a major pro-Putin newspaper’s website – before apologising for his role in the ruthless Kremlin’s propaganda machine.
Vladimir Romanenko, 24, has worked for the country’s leading popular newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP) for five months.
He quit dramatically by unloading multiple anti-war stories onto the widely-read website, and made a blistering attack on ‘ego-maniac’ Putin, while he was in Tblisi, Georgia – safely out of Russia’s reach.
‘I had to lie every day, although I know the truth,’ he said.
The paper’s opaque ownership structure is believed to be linked to National Media Group, headed by 70-year-old Putin’s mistress Alina Kabaeva, 39, a former Olympic gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast and loyalist MP.
Vladimir Romanenko (pictured), 24, has worked for the country’s leading popular newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP) for five months
The paper’s opaque ownership structure is believed to be linked to National Media Group, headed by 70-year-old Putin’s (left) mistress Alina Kabaeva (right), 39, a former Olympic gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast and loyalist MP
In his dramatic mea culpa, Romanenko said: ‘I have been working as a news reporter at Komsomolskaya Pravda for the propaganda machine, where the war in Ukraine is called a special operation and they justify the killing of civilians.
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He said: ‘The dictator and ego-maniac Putin is called the president of Russia.
‘Me and my circle did not choose either Putin or the war.
‘I am against the war and I am against Putin.
‘I am ashamed that I spent so much time working for propaganda, and literally sold my conscience.
‘In fact, I consider the war in Ukraine a vile and terrible crime.
‘I apologise to the people of Ukraine.’
He told how in stories for KP ‘everyday I denigrated the death of the heroes of Ukraine, justified Putin’s orders and the cruel Russian army under the slogans of fighting Nazism.
‘This is all the nonsense of the sick gang of the Kremlin.
‘They hide the real genocide with propaganda, the bombing of cities, and the crimes of participants and supporters of the war against Ukraine.
‘Please share my story as much as possible.
‘Let as many people as possible see my confession. I repent the abomination of my actions and once again apologise to all people of Ukraine.
‘You have every right to hate me for the lies I wrote.’
Romanenko is believed to be in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, and says if he was still in Russia he could have been killed.
He quit dramatically by unloading multiple anti-war stories onto the widely-read website, and made a blistering attack on ‘ego-maniac’ Putin, while he was in Tblisi, Georgia – safely out of Russia’s reach
He told how in stories for KP ‘everyday I denigrated the death of the heroes of Ukraine, justified Putin’s orders and the cruel Russian army under the slogans of fighting Nazism
Romanenko denied hacking the paper’s site, saying he had access through his job to the website’s administration panel, but he has now been blocked (pictured: Putin and Alina Kabaeva)
He has come out as gay and said: ‘If I had stayed in Russia now, I would not only have been banned, I would have been killed.’
The journalist knows many Ukrainians and was made aware of the truth about the truth behind Putin’s invasion, he said.
He wanted to redeem himself, and encourage other pro-Kremlin journalists to do the same, he said.
The stories he posted to the website were taken down in around ten minutes after editors spotted the blunder.
Romanenko denied hacking the paper’s site, saying he had access through his job to the website’s administration panel, but he has now been blocked.
Among the headlines he posted were:
- Russian activists continue to resist the Putin regime despite the repressions
- Peace does not come because of Putin: Zelensky signed a decree banning negotiations personally with Putin
- Putin ordered the bombing of peaceful cities in Ukraine
- How much is Putin’s war in Ukraine worth?
- The Kremlin regime released prisoners with weapons
- The European Union has created a tribunal in The Hague to try Putin for the war in Ukraine
- The Russian Federation committed crimes in Bucha, Izyum and Hostomel
- Russia has become a victim of occupation by Putin’s regime.
- Torture of [Alexei] Navalny: how political prisoners are treated in Russian prisons
The newspaper has not commented on Romanenko’s claims.
Romanenko is believed to be in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, and says if he was still in Russia he could have been killed. He has come out as gay and said: ‘If I had stayed in Russia now, I would not only have been banned, I would have been killed’
The journalist knows many Ukrainians and was made aware of the truth about the truth behind Putin’s invasion, he said.
Among the headlines he posted were: ‘Russian activists continue to resist the Putin regime despite the repressions’, ‘Peace does not come because of Putin: Zelensky signed a decree banning negotiations personally with Putin’ and ‘Putin ordered the bombing of peaceful cities in Ukraine’
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