“Russian Rambo” Arthur Smolyaninow changes sides
“I’m ready to kill Russians”
Artur Smolyaninow is considered the Russian Sylvester Stallone. He even stars in one of Vladimir Putin’s favorite films. But now he is siding with the Ukrainians.
Published: 15 minutes ago
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Arthur Smolianinov is considered the Russian Sylvester Stallone. He stars in one of President Vladimir Putin’s favorite films. As a soldier bravely fighting for his country.
What an unexpected plot twist! The “Russian Rambo” Artur Smoljaninow (39) seems to have switched sides – and may soon be fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainians.
Actor Smolyaninow is considered Sylvester Stallone (76) of Russia. He starred in one of President Vladimir Putin’s (70) favorite films: In “The 9th Company” (in German “The Ninth Company”) he played a brave Russian soldier who fights to the end against Afghanistan. Soviet forces occupied the country for around a decade in 1979.
Putin: “The film touches the soul”
The war film was so popular that Putin invited the crew and actors to his residence. Also Smolyaninov. There was a special performance there. According to the Kremlin, Putin spoke personally to film director Fyodor Bondarchuk (55) and to Smolyaninov. According to the state news agency RIA Novosti, the Russian ruler was even emotionally agitated. “The film touches the soul,” Putin is said to have said.
But now, of all people, Smolianinov says he is ready to join the Ukrainians in the Russian war of aggression. «I feel nothing but hatred towards Russia. I am ready to kill Russians,” he was quoted as saying by the Russian opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Without hesitation he would even shoot a former colleague who was fighting on the side of the Russians. “That’s the only way for me,” said Smolyaninow.
criminal proceedings opened
Shortly after these statements were published, the Russian Ministry of Justice classified the actor as an enemy agent. Alexander Bastrykin (69), head of the investigative committee of the Russian Federation, also opened criminal proceedings against him.
Smolyaninov has also recorded a song critical of the Kremlin. He has laid his own lines over a well-known template from the days of the Soviet Union. Already in the summer he spoke out against the Ukraine war.
In an interview he said the war was a catastrophe. For this reason, a Moscow court fined him 30,000 rubles in October, which is about 400 francs. Since then, Smolyaninow has lived in exile, probably in Latvia. (twa)