Some communist members of the legislature in Primorye Krai, Russia’s far east region, have asked Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, to withdraw soldiers and end the war in Ukraine.
A deputy read out part of the appeal in a statement at a legislative meeting on Friday, Kyiv Independent reported.
Leonid Vasyukevich, one of the members, said Russian troops were suffering heavy losses and failing to achieve military success in Ukraine.
READ ALSO: Russian Central Bank Governor Wants to Resign Amid Ukraine War But Putin Says ‘No’
“We understand that if our country does not stop the military operation, then there will be more orphans in our country. During the military operation, young people are killed and disabled, who could bring great benefit to our country,” he read.
Vasyukevich said four deputies, all members of the Communist Party faction, signed the appeal.
Deputies Vasyukevich, Gennady Shulga, Natalia Kochugova, and Alexander Sustov expressed doubts about Russia’s military operation in Ukraine through the appeal.
Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of Primorye Krai, ordered the removal of Vasyukevich and his colleague Shulga from the meeting.
“These actions discredit the Russian army and our defenders who stand in the fight against Nazism. A traitor,” Kommersant, a Russian daily newspaper, quoted Kozhemyako to have said.
READ ALSO: Russia Loses Fourth General in Ukraine
However, Kochugova and Sustov said they did not sign the appeal to Putin. “I have a personal opinion on a special military operation. But I did not sign this statement,” Sustov said.
Vasyukevich’s is one of the few statements opposing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine from elected officials within Russia.
Subscribe
Be the first to receive special investigative reports and features in your inbox.