Russian activist turned Ukrainian soldier dies in combat

Ildar Dadin, a well-known Russian opposition activist who in recent years fought on the side of Ukrainian forces, has died at the front. According to information from the independent portal "Novaya Gazeta.Europe," the Russian was killed due to artillery shelling in the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine.

As reported by Novaya Gazeta.Europe, Ildar Dadin decided to leave Russia in 2022 following the full-scale invasion of Russian forces into Ukraine. The opposition activist settled in Warsaw, where he later joined the ranks of the Ukrainian army.

During the fighting, Dadin adopted the military nickname "Gandhi." According to the portal's reports, he was an active participant in military operations until the tragic moment when he lost his life due to Russian artillery actions.

The news of 42-year-old Ildar Dadin's death was first reported by former Echo of Moscow journalist Ksenia Larina, who posted on social media that Dadin had died during combat in the Kharkiv region. The Freedom of Russia Legion, where Dadin fought as an opposition activist, later confirmed the information to The Insider portal.

Ildar Dadin made history as the first person in the Russian Federation to be sentenced to prison for repeatedly violating assembly laws. In 2015, he was tried and sentenced to three years in a penal colony, though the sentence was later reduced to two and a half years. Even while serving his sentence, Dadin announced that he was a victim of torture in a penal colony in Karelia, which resonated widely in the Russian media. He was ultimately released in 2017, based on the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

Dadin's death is another tragic case of a figure opposing the regime in Moscow and deciding to fight against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as highlighted by media outlets connected to his opposition activities, including the independent portal "Novaya Gazeta.Europe."