Nov 6, 2026 · 30 min
Russian officer turns insider against Putin’s war
The Russian Officer Secretly Working for Ukraine
Lev Stupnikov’s story shows how corruption, brutality, and battlefield access turned a Russian officer into a high-value Ukrainian asset.
- 1Stupnikov’s disillusionment with Russia’s military pushed him from reluctant officer to covert Ukrainian informant.
- 2His intelligence helped Ukraine strike Russian command posts, equipment, and personnel while exposing a spy inside the brigade.
- 3After escaping across a mined front line, Stupnikov joined the Russian Volunteer Corps and returned to fight Russia.
Don't miss
Stupnikov crosses a mined section of the front, guided by drone footage and ducks near a lake, then confirms his identity with “peanut shop.”
The brief
Lev Stupnikov entered Russia’s military expecting a career, but obsolete equipment, bribery, and the invasion steadily replaced commitment with disillusionment.
Sent to the front as a signals officer, Stupnikov saw looting and brutality firsthand while commanding former convicts and gaining access to valuable intelligence.
Through Dmitry Karpenko’s agent network, Stupnikov began feeding Ukraine information that enabled strikes on Russian personnel, equipment, and command posts.
When repeated Russian failures suggested a spy inside the brigade, Ukrainian handlers guided Stupnikov across a mined front line using drone footage and a password: “peanut shop.”
After captivity and a failed attempt to reunite with his wife, Stupnikov joined the Russian Volunteer Corps, accepting political and personal risks to keep fighting against Putin.
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