Broadcasting News Corporation : Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing calls to resign from deputies from 18 Russian municipalities over his handling of the war in Ukraine. “We, the municipal deputies of Russia, believe that the actions of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin are harming the future of Russian and its citizens,” said the petition, which is circulating on Twitter. “We demand that Vladimir Putin steps down from the post of president of the Russian Federation!” The petition was initially signed by 18 officials representing municipalities in Moscow, St. Petersburg and the city of Kolpino. “The text of the petition is laconic, it does not ‘discredit’ anyone. If you are a municipal deputy and would like to join – you’re welcome,” wrote Moscow Deputy Ksenia Torstrom, who shared the petition online on Monday. Torstrom later reported that another 84 deputies signed the petition on Monday. This latest push aimed at forcing the Kremlin strongman out of office comes just days after the deputies of a St. Petersburg municipality called on the Russian Duma to charge Putin with treason for invading Ukraine. The seven outspoken officials are now reportedly facing charges of their own accusing them of discrediting the Russian military, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Earlier this week, municipal deputies in Moscow’s Lomonosovsky District demanded that Putin step down, claiming that his aggressive stance has plunged Russia back into the Cold War era, reported Radio Free Europe. Addressing the warmonger directly, they said: “Your views, your management model are hopelessly outdated and impede the development of Russia and its human potential.” The deputies’ risky open revolt against Putin followed last weekend’s local and regional election, in which pro-Kremlin candidates swept to victory, igniting rigging and ballot-stuffing claims. The chorus of discontent in Russia appears to be growing stronger against the background of Ukraine’s lightning counter-offensive, in which Kyiv’s forces were said to have reclaimed close to 2,400 square miles of territory in the northeast and south, according to the latest update from President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Kremlin on Monday said the military operation would continue until its goals are achieved but sidestepped a question about whether Putin still had confidence in his military leadership. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov assured reporters that Russians as a whole continue to support Putin, who has been in power as either president or vice president since 2000. NEWS COLLECTED FROM NEW YORK POST.