Russian opposition activist Dadin is killed fighting for Ukraine – reports

The Russian outlet Meduza reported the news, citing former Echo of Moscow journalist Ksenia Larina, who posted on X.

"I've just been informed that Ildar Dadin has been killed in battle in the Kharkiv region," Larina shared on social media the evening of October 5.

In a conversation with Sota, Larina explained she got the news from Igor Volobuyev, a former vice president of Gazprombank now also fighting for Ukraine. He, in turn, heard from Dadin’s brothers.

Other sources have yet to confirm the death of the Russian opposition figure in the war.

Who was Ildar Dadin?

Ildar Dadin was the first person in Russia convicted under the law for repeated violations of protest regulations. This legislation, introduced in 2014, became known as the "Dadin article" after his case. In December 2015, Dadin was sentenced to three years in prison, later reduced to two and a half.

In November 2016, Dadin exposed torture practices in the Karelian IK-7 penal colony, where he was held. His claims of beatings and torture were backed by other prisoners and their families, though Russia's prison service and investigative committee officially denied any wrongdoing after inspections.

Dadin arrived in Ukraine in early 2023 to fight against the Russian military. He joined the "Sibir Battalion," fighting under the call sign Gandhi. In an interview with Mediazona, he explained that he chose to take up arms after losing faith in non-violent resistance against Vladimir Putin’s regime.