Russian Man Throws Molotov Cocktail at the Kremlin in Video

A video that appears to show a Russian man who threw a Molotov cocktail at the walls of the Kremlin is circulating on social media.

The short clip appears to have initially been shared on TikTok, where it has amassed more than 250,000 views. The caption says "Moscow, Kremlin" in Russian.

Captured by someone in a moving vehicle, it appeared to show the moment after an unidentified man tried to launch a Molotov cocktail over the walls of the Kremlin, a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow that serves as the official residence of President Vladimir Putin.

The weapon appeared to have hit the wall, where a small fire was can be seen burning briefly and leaving a large scorch mark. Small blazes were also seen on the ground near the wall.

On TikTok, some commenters praised the man's actions, while others expressed concern for his fate.

"We need several thousand of them!" one comment said.

"The guy will probably never see the light again at the end of a mine in Siberia," another said.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for comment.

A crackdown on dissent in the country has been expanded since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine last month. Independent news outlets have been blocked and social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, have been banned.

Russia's parliament passed legislation earlier this month that criminalized "fake news" about the Russian military. It also banned media from using the words "invasion" or "assault" to describe the conflict in Ukraine.

However, these laws haven't stopped Russians from protesting.

On March 14, a woman interrupted a live evening news program on Russia's state TV by walking behind the anchor holding a handmade poster protesting the war in English and Russian. She was identified as Marina Ovsyannikova, an employee of the station.

In an interview, Ovsyannikova said she was "very worried" for the safety of her children after her protest.

More than 15,000 people have been detained for demonstrating against the war since February 24, according to OVD-Info, a rights group that tracks political arrests. Those who have been arrested include people who demonstrated with blank signs, Newsweek previously reported.

It comes as President Joe Biden embarks Wednesday on a four-day trip to Europe to meet with key allies to prevent the war from becoming an even greater crisis.

Update 3/23/22, 9:12 am. ET: This article has been updated with background information.