Krasnodar escape crisis: Russian soldiers break free from unit
On Friday evening, approximately 100 Russian soldiers attempted to flee from a confined military unit in Krasnodar. The situation was swiftly controlled by the guard forces and police.
What do you need to know?
- Where did the incident occur? At a military unit in Krasnodar, Krasnodar Krai, Russia.
- What actions were taken by the services? The area was cordoned off by guard forces and police, and streets in the city were blocked.
- How many soldiers managed to escape? Seven soldiers managed to escape from the unit, four of whom were quickly apprehended.
Why did the soldiers try to escape?
According to reports in the Russian media, soldiers who had previously left the unit without permission were being held in a specifically fenced area on the premises of the military command. On Friday evening, 18th April, around 100 of them attempted to escape by breaching the fence.
"The escapees managed to destroy the fence and leave the area" - report Russian channels on Telegram.
What are the authorities' next steps?
The Krasnodar authorities took immediate action by blocking streets and encircling the incident area. Of the seven soldiers who managed to escape, four were quickly captured, and three remain at large.
"Searches for the remaining escapees are ongoing in the city" - local sources report.
Officially, the soldiers who attempted to escape were not armed. However, reports on Telegram suggest that at least a few managed to acquire weapons. There was an exchange of fire with the police and Rossgvardia. There are reports of injuries and fatalities, though these have not been confirmed.
What are the Kremlin's plans?
In the light of this incident, it is noteworthy that the Kremlin plans to draft 160,000 people for military service from 1st April to 15th July 2025. This is the largest number of conscriptions in the three-year-long conflict against Ukraine. "The men will not be sent to deployment points in the so-called 'DPR' and 'LPR', as well as in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions" - the authorities assure.
