Russian rapper commits suicide to avoid being drafted in Ukraine war

REGION  05 October 2022 - 08:29

A 27-year-old Russian rapper took his own life to avoid being drafted to fight in President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine — after tragically declaring he was “not ready to kill for any ideals.”

Ivan Vitalievich Petunin, who performed under the stage name “Walkie,” was found dead after jumping from a high-rise apartment building in the city of Krasnodar, according to Russian-language news outlet 93.ru, which was translated by The New York Post.

The rapper’s death has since been confirmed by his girlfriend and his mother, who spoke to a 93.ru reporter, independent Russian media outlet Mediazona reported.

Petunin committed suicide by throwing himself off the 10th floor, local sources told the outlets.

Before the tragic leap, the rapper also filmed himself delivering a heart-wrenching suicide message that was posted to his Telegram channel, local media reported.

“If you are watching this video, then I am no longer alive,” he said in Russian, according to a translated version of the 2-minute, 16-second clip published by TMZ.

“I can’t take the sin of murder on my soul and I don’t want to. I am not ready to kill for any ideals. To murder someone in war or otherwise is something I cannot do,” he continued.

“It seems to me that partial mobilization will become full in a few days,” Petunin said, referencing the ramped-up war effort rolled out by strongman Putin, whom he later called a “maniac.”

“Forgive me, my loved ones, but sometimes you have to die for your principles,” the tragic message continued.

“My last decision is exactly how I die,” he continued, looking emotional and breathing deeply.

Walkie had nearly 40,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and his song “Нейротоксин,” which means “Neurotoxin,” had been streamed nearly 2 million times. The recording artist had been releasing music since 2013, his Bandcamp page showed.
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