Russian opposition figure Ildar Dadin killed in Ukraine battle

The Russian opposition activist Ildar Dadin, who was fighting in Ukraine, has died. According to his unit comrades, he and other soldiers reportedly lost their lives due to enemy artillery fire. These details remain unofficial as his unit is not disclosing specifics.

Renowned Russian oppositionist Ildar Dadin, who had joined Ukrainian forces, was killed on the front lines in the Kharkiv region. The incident was reported on Tuesday by the independent portal "Novaya Gazeta.Europe". Dadin was struck by artillery fire in the northeast of the country.

Ildar Dadin left Russia for Poland in 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Not long after, he joined the Ukrainian forces opposing the Russian army, where he was primarily known by his military pseudonym "Gandhi".

The first reports of Dadin's death appeared on October 5. These were shared by former Echo of Moscow radio journalist Ksenia Larina, who posted on social media: "I just found out that Ildar Dadin has died. During fighting in the Kharkiv region."

The news about Dadin's death was also confirmed by the "Freedom of Russia" Legion in a conversation with the portal The Insider. The oppositionist was most likely killed as a result of Russian artillery fire, though Dadin's unit has withheld detailed information about his death. These details are likely to emerge after the conflict concludes.

Dadin was a notable opponent of Vladimir Putin's regime. He was the first Russian citizen to be sentenced to imprisonment for repeatedly violating regulations regarding the organization of assemblies.

In 2015, he was sentenced to three years in a penal colony, although the court later reduced the sentence to 2.5 years. While serving his sentence in a penal colony in Karelia, Dadin claimed he had been tortured. He was eventually released from prison in 2017 following intervention by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.