Source TOI
A 26-year-old Russian army officer secretly worked against his own country by giving important military secrets to Ukraine. His bold actions led to the deaths of more than 300 Russian soldiers before he made a daring escape to Kyiv.
A Secret Plan from the Inside
Lieutenant Lev Stupnikov was a signals officer in the Russian army, giving him access to top-secret information. Instead of doing his regular job, he shared hidden battle plans, radio frequencies, and live video feeds from drones with Ukrainian forces.
During one major attack, Stupnikov pretended to have a bad stomach ache so he could step away from his fellow soldiers safely. Shortly after he left, Ukrainian missiles hit the exact location he had shared. That single strike killed 68 Russian soldiers—including a high-ranking commander named Colonel Gusein Musayev—and injured 60 more. When his Ukrainian contact texted to ask if there were explosions, Stupnikov simply replied, “There’s just meat”.
Escaping Across the Battlefield
By July 2024, it was time for Stupnikov to run away. He left his weapons behind and walked through a dangerous “no-man’s-land” filled with destroyed cars, craters, and hidden landmines. A Ukrainian drone guided him through the dark while troops watched his progress on a heat-tracking camera.
When he finally reached the Ukrainian soldiers, they asked him for a secret password. He answered, “Peanut shop,” and was immediately searched, blindfolded, and taken to safety. As a final parting gift to his old army, he handed Ukraine a smartphone loaded with access codes, allowing them to keep watching live Russian drone cameras.
Why Did He Change Sides?
Stupnikov said he hated the war from the very beginning when Russia invaded in February 2022. He was horrified to see Russian bombs falling on innocent people and called the attacks “evil”. His mother, who also strongly opposed Russian President Vladimir Putin, actually helped him get in touch with Ukrainian secret agents to plan his escape.
Today, Stupnikov fights for the Russian Volunteer Corps, an army unit made up of Russians who are fighting against Putin’s forces. However, his big decision came with a heavy personal cost. After he changed sides, his wife cut all ties with him and accused him of betraying his country.
