A prominent Russian blogger known for his staunch support of President Vladimir Putin has been involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility days after publicly denouncing the Russian leader as a war criminal.

Ilya Remeslo, a 42-year-old lawyer with around 90,000 Telegram followers, stunned both Kremlin loyalists and opposition figures late Tuesday, March 17, with a manifesto titled "Five reasons why I stopped supporting Vladimir Putin." In the post, he lambasted the war in Ukraine as a "dead-end" conflict that has killed millions and devastated Russia's economy, accused Putin of censoring the internet and media, consolidating power illegally, and indulging in an "insane craving for luxury." He concluded: "Vladimir Putin is not a legitimate president. Vladimir Putin must resign and be brought to trial as a war criminal and a thief."

Remeslo followed up with a video message affirming the post was his own and not the result of a hack. The next day, he appeared in a YouTube interview looking calm, dressed in what resembled a military uniform. He revealed a call from Chechen commander Apti Alaudinov urging him to delete the post, which he refused, and traced his disillusionment to Putin's handling of Yevgeny Prigozhin's 2023 mutiny and frontline observations suggesting no path to victory.

Remeslo had built his online profile targeting Kremlin critics, particularly the late Alexei Navalny. He filed complaints accusing Navalny of embezzlement, testified for the prosecution in 2022, and claimed involvement in cases linked to payments from pro-government entities. He had served on a Kremlin advisory body and positioned himself as a defender of the regime and the Ukraine invasion.

Remeslo ceased posting after the interview. On Thursday, March 19, St. Petersburg outlet Fontanka reported his admission to Skvortsov-Stepanov City Psychiatric Hospital No. 3, a facility with a history of treating Soviet-era dissidents and specializing in first-onset psychosis. Hospital staff confirmed to Reuters and others that a patient matching his full name was admitted, though details on timing or grounds were unavailable. Pro-war channels and media like Baza corroborated the reports.

The swift development sparked widespread speculation. Pro-Kremlin voices, including propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, dismissed it as a psychological breakdown, while opposition figures like Ivan Zhdanov noted the speed of response. Some suggested self-admission to evade prosecution, citing Remeslo's family ties to psychiatry, or a deliberate provocation. Others invoked Russia's legacy of "punitive psychiatry," where critics were historically labeled mentally ill to silence them.

As of Friday, March 20, Remeslo remained hospitalized, with no further updates from him or authorities. The incident highlights tensions within Russia's pro-war circles amid ongoing conflict and economic strain.