Ildar Dadin’s story reveals just how brutal the Russian regime is. Vladimir Putin is willing to kill his own people if they oppose his war.
Whatever you think about the war in Ukraine, this is a tragic story.
Famed Russian opposition activist Ildar Dadin is dead.
At a glance:
- Ildar Dadin, a prominent Russian opposition activist, was killed fighting for Ukraine.
- Dadin was part of the Freedom of Russia Legion, a group of Russian volunteers fighting against Vladimir Putin’s regime.
- Known for his peaceful protests against the Russian government, Dadin joined the fight in Ukraine after feeling personally responsible for Russia’s invasion.
Ildar Dadin, a well-known Russian opposition activist, has been killed while fighting for Ukraine, according to reports from the group that recruited him. Dadin, who had long been a vocal critic of the Kremlin, joined a battalion of Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine, known as the Freedom of Russia Legion. He was killed in action during a Russian artillery attack in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine.
The Civic Council, a group linked to the recruitment of Russian volunteers, confirmed Dadin’s death, calling him a hero. “He was, and he remains a hero,” a spokesperson told the BBC. Details of the attack are still limited, and the Legion has refrained from commenting further, citing ongoing military operations.
Dadin, who rose to prominence a decade ago for his peaceful protests against the Russian government, became the first person prosecuted under a controversial law that criminalized repeated violations of Russia’s increasingly strict protest regulations. In 2014, he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for staging solo protests in Moscow, an act that became a symbol of resistance against Russia’s growing political repression.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6Y8fRVVAQw
While imprisoned, Dadin endured severe torture at the hands of prison guards. He was placed in a punishment cell, went on hunger strike, and was brutally mistreated, including being hung from a wall by his cuffed wrists. His experience in prison nearly broke him, but it also reinforced his resolve to fight against the authoritarianism of Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Earlier this year, Dadin decided to take up arms and fight for Ukraine, feeling compelled to act against what he called “Russian evil.” In conversations with the BBC, Dadin explained that his decision was driven by the mass killing, torture, and other atrocities committed by Russian forces in Ukraine. Despite always considering himself a pacifist, Dadin joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces, adopting the callsign “Gandhi.”
Dadin saw his participation in the war as a personal responsibility, arguing that he and other Russians had failed to stop Putin, allowing the invasion to happen. He believed that helping Ukraine defeat Putin was a necessary step toward ending the Kremlin’s oppressive rule. Despite facing exhaustion and injury, Dadin remained committed to the fight, even as he questioned the effectiveness of some missions.
In his final months, Dadin continued to hold himself accountable for Russia’s actions, lamenting that he had not done enough to stop Putin’s regime. Those who knew him, however, saw him as a principled and brave fighter. The Civic Council praised his dedication, calling him “strong, brave, principled, and honest.”
Dadin’s death underscores the sacrifices made by Russians who oppose their own government’s actions and are willing to risk their lives to fight for a free and democratic future. His legacy as an activist and a fighter will be remembered by those who continue to resist authoritarianism in Russia and beyond.
Rest in peace…