Ilya Ponomarev was previously a member of the Russian parliament, considered an unruly liberal by the leadership. Now exiled in Ukraine since 2016, Ponomarev heads the Freedom of Russia Legion, a volunteer militia comprised of Russian dissidents and defectors with a reported 1,600 members. Ponomarev has declared his intention to overthrow Vladimir Putin and his aides, with his volunteer militia using pinprick tactics to antagonize Russian troops in hopes of one day marching on Moscow.
Born in Moscow, Ponomarev has a background in technology and the oil and gas industry, starting his career as an entrepreneur before entering politics in 2007. He gained attention by openly criticizing the ruling party and refusing to support a law banning “gay propaganda”, culminating in his vote against the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Since the invasion of Russia in 2022, Ponomarev has positioned himself as the public face of pro-Ukraine Russians, leading the Freedom of Russia Legion and the National Republican Army. He is also involved in a Russian-language opposition TV channel and has claimed responsibility for certain events such as assassinations and attacks against the Kremlin.
His attempt to overthrow Putin and his government has been met with skepticism in Russia due to his lack of elite support and military experience. Although Ponomarev has become a high-profile target, it is unlikely that he will be able to achieve his goal of mounting a coup against the regime anytime soon.