The address by Russian actor Alexey Yarmushik to President Vladimir Putin has sparked widespread discussion on social media. Within two days of its publication, the video gained about 1.5 million views on Instagram, reports [DW](https://www.dw.com/ru/obrasenie-molodogo-aktera-armusika-putinu-nabralo-15-mln-prosmotrov/a-78171085). In the emotional video, the 26-year-old artist stated that he does not consider Putin his president, spoke out against the war in Ukraine, and called for the country's leadership to resign. In the description of the post, Yarmushik wrote that he wanted not only to call for an end to the war but also for the current authorities to step down. In the address, the actor mentions that many of his peers have either left Russia or avoid discussions about what is happening. He also stated that he does not share the official position of the Russian authorities regarding Crimea and admitted that he had previously shown little interest in politics, but the events of recent years have changed his perspective. One of the reasons for publishing the video, according to Yarmushik, was concerns about a possible new wave of mobilization and rumors about a potential closure of borders. In an interview with the publication “Caution, News,” the actor shared that the video was an attempt to “break out of the information bubble” and start an open conversation. At the same time, he admitted that he understands the possible consequences of his actions and feels anxious. A few hours after the publication, Yarmushik recorded another video in which he confessed that he was surprised by the scale of the reaction. According to him, he expected a much harsher response, but he was pleasantly surprised that many people with opposing views expressed themselves calmly and respectfully. “The essence is simply to talk. Just to talk. I am proud to have been born in this country,” said the actor. Alexey Yarmushik graduated from the Higher School of Performing Arts of Konstantin Raikin in 2023, after which he worked at the Moscow Governor's Theater under the direction of Sergey Bezrukov. According to media reports, in the summer of 2026, he left the theater after publicly criticizing the working conditions and salary levels. Before leaving the theater, he played Buratino in the play “The Golden Key” and also appeared in short films and series. The video by the young actor quickly went viral on social media, and Yarmushik stated that the main goal of the address was to initiate an open dialogue, despite the possible risks to himself.