Russian actor Shmoyaninov with the title of "Russian Blue Wave".

(Retrieved from Shmoyaninov's Facebook page)

[Central News Agency] The Russian actor Shmoyaninov with the title of "Russian Blue Wave" once starred in one of Russian President Putin's favorite movies, the war film "Ninth Company", and was received by the other party at his official residence.

But now he is willing to fight for Ukraine, even killing Russian soldiers.

CNN reported that Artur Smolyaninov was the hero of the 2005 Russian film "Devyataya Rota" (Ninth Company), set in the Soviet Union's 10-year occupation. Afghanistan, the plot describes the last stand of a Soviet company against the Afghan rebels, and Smoyaninov plays the last surviving soldier in this battle.

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He has thus often been described as Russia's Rambo, with comparisons to his well-known character of the same name, starring American action star Sylvester Stallone.

The "Ninth Company" was so popular back then that Vladimir Putin even held a special screening at his official residence in the suburbs of Moscow in November 2005, and invited the actors and staff of the film, including Smoyaninov, to attend .

However, after many years, Smoyaninov is now exiled overseas because of his opposition to Putin's war against Ukraine at the end of February 2022. He has been listed as a "foreign agent" by the Russian authorities and is facing criminal investigation.

Smoyaninov made his first anti-war remarks in the summer of 2022.

He was still in Russia at the time, and in an interview he described the Russian military campaign as "a disaster, everything collapsed, (left) ashes, smoke, stench and tears".

In October, Smoyaninov was fined 30,000 rubles (approximately NT$13,000) by a Moscow district court for defaming the Russian armed forces. He also left Russia this month.

He is believed to be in neighboring Latvia.

Smoyaninov recalled how he crossed the Russian border into Latvia: "I crossed the border on foot. ... You only have to walk 30 meters, and there are completely different people in front of you. They are so gentle, and even look different."

Smoyaninov told Russia's Novaya Gazeta newspaper last week: "I have no feelings for the people on the other side of the front (Russia), only hatred. If I was there, there would be no mercy."

He said that one of his former colleagues had gone to war for Russia, "would I shoot him? No doubt I would! I wouldn't rule out fighting for Ukraine? Absolutely! That's the only way for me. And If I go to fight this battle, I will only fight for Ukraine."

Days later, Russia's justice ministry listed Smoyaninov as a foreign agent.

The chairman of Russia's Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, also ordered a criminal investigation against him.