The phrase “this is just Putin’s war” crumbles when easily recognizable Russians living abroad for years, like the model Danila Popov, still cheer for Ukraine’s destruction.
In mid-September, a demonstration supporting Ukraine took place near the Russian embassy in Tokyo, Japan. It aimed to remind the world that Japan stands with Ukraine and that this support extends far beyond Ukraine’s borders.
The demonstration was peaceful, with participants holding Ukrainian flags and placards—no signs of aggression or provocation.
But the peace didn’t last.
A Russian man approached the pro-Ukrainian activists, shouting insults and phrases like “Glory to Russia” while raising his hand in a Nazi-style salute. Despite attempts by law enforcement to lead him away, he continued harassing the demonstrators before eventually calming down.
So called russian opposition says its putins war, ordinary russians are good people.
— Heather Burgundy 🇺🇦🇯🇵 (@HeatherBurgundy) September 23, 2024
Meanwhile in peaceful Japan at a peaceful demo, which is held by Ukrainians for humanitarian aid
P.S. yes, you saw his hand gesture right. pic.twitter.com/iIjJ5qdx3w
The activists asked him to leave and stop provoking the situation. No force was used against him, and he eventually backed down after hurling verbal abuse at women and children protesting Russian aggression.
The OSINT team Molfar conducted an investigation, revealing that the man is Danilov (Popov) Danila Alexandrovich. Insider sources report that he swapped his last name from Popov to Danilov in 2010. Originally from Moscow, Russia, he is now a Tokyo resident for over 10 years, having moved to Japan in 2011. Popov has a Russian passport and a U.S. visa. The investigation revealed that he worked as a model in fashion shows and photoshoots for Japanese designers, including Facetasm, Sophnet, and Whiz Limited, and participated in a show for designer Maison Mihara Yasuhiro.
Russian model threatens pro-Ukrainian activists in Tokyo. Also, he hates Japanese people living in Japan (as usual for russians).@molfar_global identified the provocateur — @danila_danilov (Popov) from Moscow.
— Molfar (@molfar_agency) September 24, 2024
He has a Russian passport and a U.S. visa (received in 2013) but… pic.twitter.com/M2m3iQu0Vi
Popov’s case is telling. Though he hasn’t lived in Russia for over a decade, he remains an active supporter of Putin, Russian policies, and the war. A staunch admirer of Hitler, Popov regularly uses Nazi rhetoric and writes about his “Aryan race,” with his social media filled with similar imagery.
Popov has a history of run-ins with local police. In 2014, he was detained and had to rely on an interpreter.
“I’ve been caught again. What a pain in the ass,” Popov posted on Instagram. “This guy is an interpreter, but he’s so bad, I can’t understand a word he’s saying… why do I have to fix the interpreter? Die, cops!”
In 2015 he said “I’ve lived here for about 4 years, but Japan is still a fucked-up nation” on the Russian social network Vkontakte. In September 2023, he identified himself as a Russian-speaking guide in Tokyo.
“Putin’s war”
The narrative that “this is Putin’s war” has been pushed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. But with increasing incidents of Russians openly supporting the invasion, participating in it, and even disrupting peaceful Ukrainian protests abroad, the sentiment quickly falls apart. Despite Popov’s attempts to peddle narratives like “no one is right or wrong” or “Ukrainians and Russians are brothers”—as seen in a 2023 video he filmed with a Japanese resident and posted on his Instagram—the reality remains: this is a large-scale conflict between two distinct nations, where Russia is the aggressor.
We’ve previously reported that so-called ordinary Russians travel to temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories to “rebuild” cities, effectively aiding the Russian military. These Russians then settle in Ukrainian homes, essentially stealing them from their rightful owners.
Millions of Russians within Russia work in defense industries, producing the missiles used to strike peaceful Ukrainian cities. They also contribute to hundreds of pro-Russian media outlets, spreading Kremlin propaganda.
Even Russians who left the country long ago—often to escape poor living conditions—continue to openly support Putin’s regime and the terror Russia inflicts on Ukraine. This loyalty surfaced almost immediately after the invasion began.
One such case occurred two years ago in Germany, where a Russian woman harassed a Ukrainian activist. She was eventually detained and deported after claiming Russia would prevail and that Kherson was a Russian city.
This isn’t just Putin’s war. And Popov may soon find himself sharing the fate of his compatriot from Germany.
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