Stories
Russian Officer Betrays Moscow to Aid Ukraine Before Dramatic Escape
- •Lieutenant Lev Stupnikov secretly leaked Russian battle plans and troop movements to Ukrainian intelligence, contributing to the deaths of over 300 soldiers.
- •Motivated by opposition to President Vladimir Putin's invasion, Stupnikov utilized his position as a chief signals officer to coordinate devastating missile strikes.
- •With the help of his mother and an encrypted network run by Ukrainian contacts, Stupnikov successfully defected across the frontline in July 2024.
- •Stupnikov now works as a communications specialist for the Russian Volunteer Corps, a military unit consisting of ethnic Russians fighting against Putin's government.
Key Questions Answered
In July 2024, Lieutenant Lev Stupnikov left his Russian military unit under cover of darkness and moved north toward Ukrainian positions while being monitored via live video feed by Ukrainian operators. After reaching a tree line where the 72nd Brigade was stationed, he gave the pre-arranged passcode "peanut shop" to identify himself and was taken into custody.
Stupnikov's decision to assist Ukraine stemmed from his strong opposition to Russia's full-scale invasion, which he viewed as an evil campaign against innocent civilians. He and his wife watched opposition videos, and he felt that President Vladimir Putin had destroyed the freedom, independence, and constitutional order he had pledged to defend.
After successfully defecting and escaping across the frontline, Stupnikov joined the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC). The RVC is a Ukrainian army unit composed of ethnic Russians who oppose President Vladimir Putin's government, where Stupnikov currently works as a communications specialist.
