Trending Now - Kremlin Acknowledges Errors as Celebrities Urge Putin to Listen
WHO:
The Sun - Viktoria Bonya, a reality TV star and influencer, criticized President Vladimir Putin.
The Moscow Times - Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, acknowledged the issues raised by Bonya.
The Moscow Times - Aiza (also known as Aiza-Liluna Ai or Aiza Dolmatova), a popular blogger, also criticized government corruption and rising taxes.
The Moscow Times - Ivan Okhlobystin, a pro-Kremlin actor, joined the appeals to President Putin.
WHAT:
The Sun - Bonya's video has been watched more than 20 million times and received over one million likes.
The Moscow Times - Bonya's video is 18 minutes long and has garnered 24.1 million views and over 1 million likes in two days.
The Moscow Times - Putin's approval rating has fallen to 67.8%, the lowest since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
WHERE:
The Sun - The criticism was directed at the Kremlin, located in Moscow, Russia.
The Moscow Times - Issues mentioned include flooding in Dagestan and oil pollution along the Black Sea coast.
WHEN:
The Sun - The appeals to President Putin began in April 2026.
The Moscow Times - Bonya's video was posted on April 15th, 2026.
WHY:
The Sun - Bonya stated that the Russian people are under pressure from corrupt officials and warned that they might "explode" due to their circumstances.
The Moscow Times - Bonya criticized the government for not addressing social and economic pressures affecting ordinary Russians.
HOW:
The Sun - Bonya used social media, specifically Instagram, to share her message.
The Moscow Times - Aiza's video criticized rising taxes and utility tariffs, suggesting that Putin may not be aware of the issues due to filtered information.
(UPDATED April 17, 2026 13:24 UTC)
Viktoria Bonya, a reality TV star and influencer, has sparked significant attention with her recent Instagram video criticizing President Putin and highlighting issues like government corruption and rising taxes, which has already amassed over 24 million views and one million likes in just two days. In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the concerns raised by Bonya and fellow critics, including popular blogger Aiza and pro-Kremlin actor Ivan Okhlobystin, as Putin's approval rating has dropped to 67.8%, the lowest since the invasion of Ukraine in February 20th22. Bonya warned that the Russian people are under immense pressure from corrupt officials, suggesting that their frustrations could lead to explosive consequences if not addressed.