Kenneth Glad
A Russian pro-war blogger has reportedly been unreachable since April 27 after publicly accusing Vladimir Putin of lying about wartime internet shutdowns. Yegor Guzenko, known online as “Thirteenth,” was allegedly sent to the front despite a serious leg injury.
A specific case has sharpened attention on tensions inside Russia’s pro-war online world, where some once-loyal voices have begun criticizing officials over battlefield decisions, security failures and communication blackouts.
Latvijas Avīze, citing Ukrainian outlet Dialog.ua, reported that Guzenko, 31, stopped communicating after criticizing Putin over mobile internet restrictions introduced during the war.
The Moscow Times writes that administrators of his Telegram channel said his phone was taken before he was sent into what they described as a “meat assault.” That claim has not been independently confirmed.
Guzenko had built a large following by posting material from Russia’s war in Ukraine. According to The Sun, he was previously seen as a strong supporter of Putin and the invasion.
Injury before deployment
The Moscow Times claims that Guzenko was still recovering from a double fracture when he was allegedly deployed. His associates said medical scans showed serious problems with his leg and described the assignment as a “one-way ticket.”
Guzenko wrote a post centered on the Russian authorities’ handling of mobile and internet shutdowns, which officials have presented as wartime security measures.
He argued that the restrictions did not stop attacks or protect civilians, while also disrupting communication for people affected by the war.
His message was: “You’ll forgive me, of course, but you know, Comrade Supreme Commander, what you’re saying now is a downright lie.”
He added: “None of your mobile and internet shutdowns protect anyone – it’s all a lie.”
Families left exposed
Guzenko also accused Russian authorities of leaving soldiers’ relatives vulnerable while troops were fighting at the front.
That criticism made the post broader than a complaint about internet access. It was a direct challenge to Putin’s claim that the state was keeping people safe.
The Moscow Times said Guzenko had already clashed with authorities in 2024 after earlier anti-Putin remarks.
The outlet reported that he was later detained in a criminal case, then signed a Defense Ministry contract and went to war.
And now no one seems to know what happened to him.
Sources: Latvijas Avīze (citing Dialog.ua); The Moscow Times; The Sun.
