Mobilization in Russia for Oct. 25-27, 2024 CIT Volunteer Summary

Army Recruitment and Military Service Advertising

In the Perm region [Russia’s federal subject], authorities have increased the sign-up bonus for enlisting and joining the war to 1.5 million rubles [$15,500]. This offer applies to individuals who sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense between Oct. 25 and Dec. 31, 2024, committing to service for a year or more in the "special military operation" zone. With the federal component included, new enlistees can receive up to 1.9 million rubles [$19,700]. Previously, the regional bonus had been set to 400,000 rubles [$4,140] on Aug. 1, 2024.

Law enforcement authorities in Russia-annexed Crimea are pressuring individuals under legal supervision to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense, according to the Idite Lesom! [Flee through the woods/Get lost you all] Telegram channel. These individuals, who have unspent convictions and are required to report regularly to authorities, are being compelled to provide written explanations if they refuse to enlist.

Gennady Vinogradov, a former member of the Artemovsky City District Council in Sverdlovsk region, claims to have returned to the war and is "fulfilling the combat duties of commanders" in the 255th Regiment. He had won a seat on the city council in 2018, but in 2022 a court found him guilty of leading an armed gang, murdering two people, attempted murder, fraud, and illegal arms trafficking, sentencing him to 15 years in a maximum security penal colony. Last September, however, witnesses saw him at liberty in Artemovsky. Law enforcement sources confirmed his participation in the war against Ukraine, noting he had returned from the frontline "either on leave or permanently."

Mobilized Soldiers, Volunteer Fighters and Contract Soldiers

The list of mobilized soldiers killed in the war has been updated to include Nikolay Ustyantsev, Arstan Khadynov and Sergey Solovyov from the Volgograd region, Zulkafi Kusherbaev from Russia's constituent Republic of Kalmykia, Ruslan Fattakhov, Ravil Mukhametshin, Ruslan Akhmetshin, Sergey Vasyukov, Dmitry Rulev, Elmir Abkhalikov, Yevgeny Varnavskiy and Radik Biktashev from Russia's constituent Republic of Bashkortostan, as well as Yury Shepel and Georgy Starshinov from the Ivanovo region.

The Freedom of Russia Legion has made its first statement regarding the death of Ildar Dadin. On Oct. 26, they reported that Dadin was killed during an assault mission in the Kharkiv region. Before withdrawing from combat positions, Dadin decided to aid a wounded soldier and received several bullet wounds while providing medical assistance. Previously, it was reported that he was killed in an artillery attack.

Alina Utkina, a volunteer from the Vladimir region, has posted a group photo of volunteer fighters who were deployed to the war with Ukraine, dated May 2024. She said that five months later, only a few of the 90 people had survived the war. Utkina's post on the VKontakte social network was noted by the Ateo Telegram channel, although it appears to have since been removed. Regional authorities continue to regularly report on the deployment of new batches of volunteer fighters to the frontline.

Sentences, Legal Proceedings and Incidents

Akhmed Dudayev, Chechnya’s [Russia's constituent republic] Minister of Information Policy, has refuted claims that a 42-year-old man named Aleksandr, who brutally assaulted his wife in Astrakhan, had served in the Akhmat unit. In a video released by the police, the detainee himself stated that he "had never participated in combat operations." However, the Baza Telegram channel discovered that this spring Aleksandr posted photos on his social media showing him in military uniform with weapons. The photo also shows other individuals in camouflage with Akhmat shoulder patches and a "For Participation in the Denazification and Demilitarization Operation in Ukraine" medal. It is unknown whether the medal belongs to Aleksandr. According to sources, the police reported that the man had been detained at a draft office. Later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that the detainee had been handed over to the "investigative authorities."

In Chelyabinsk, Rosgvardia [the Russian National Guard] officers shot and killed a former mercenary. Residents had called police to report that a half-naked, aggressive man was behaving erratically and attacking passersby with a knife. According to the Komsomolskaya Pravda [Komsomol Truth] media outlet, he was under the influence of drugs. Law enforcement officers who arrived at the scene fired a warning shot into the air and then shot the attacker. Sources at 74.RU [Chelyabinsk city online media outlet] reported that the man had previously been convicted of drug use and causing grievous bodily harm.

A mother and daughter detained after setting fire to the United Russia party [Putin’s ruling party] office in Perm have been placed under house arrest. The arson took place on the evening of Oct. 23. Natalia and Yekaterina Degtyarnikov, born in 1970 and 2004 respectively, were detained on Oct. 24. According to Telegram channels linked to law enforcement, the women were allegedly promised money for setting the fire. They have been charged with intentional arson.

On Oct. 25, Moscow courts authorized nine politically motivated searches and one arrest. As noted by the Sota media outlet, Moscow’s Meshchansky District Court ordered seven searches in treason cases and the arrest of E. I. Konforkina, accused of "high treason." Additionally, Moscow’s Savyolovsky District Court authorized two searches for financing extremism.

Ivan Surov, observer for the independent Russian election monitoring group Golos [Voice] from the city of Tula, was placed in pre-trial detention for alleged treason. The activist was detained by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on Oct. 23 following a search at his home, the human rights project OVD-Info reports. On Oct. 27, the court ordered Surov to remain in custody. What prompted authorities to accuse Surov of treason remains unknown, but six months ago law enforcement officers "inspected" his home in relation to the money transfers Surov had made, albeit before 2022, to journalist Arkady Babchenko who had emigrated to Ukraine. Back then, officers explained that they needed to search Surov’s home to make sure that he "was not sending any more money to the AFU."

Assistance

In the city of Vladivostok, a crowdfunding campaign was raised to buy a passenger car for one of the doctors with the Tigr volunteer unit. The car is to be sent to the combat zone along with a truckload of equipment, medical supplies, heaters and warm clothes donated by local residents for Russian troops.

In the village of Kopnino in the Vladimir region, residents of a nursing home for elderly people with mental disabilities are engaged in crafting camouflage nets for the Russian army and in visiting memorials to the fallen "heroes of the special military operation."

The presidential plenipotentiary envoy to the Urals Federal District and former field commander of the self-proclaimed "DPR" Artyom Zhoga, announced the Patriots of the Urals forum to support participants in the war. The forum is scheduled for Nov. 1 in the town of Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk region. Volunteers and civil activists will discuss ideas and challenges they encounter while aiding individuals involved in the invasion.

Miscellaneous

A park named "We Will Live" has been opened in the village of Dubovoye, Belgorod region. The park features six panels with information on the largest attacks in the region and displays symbols associated with pro-Kremlin propaganda.

Longreads

The Insider, an independent Russian investigative media outlet, published an article on Russian soldiers killing civilians in the occupied territories of Ukraine and within Russia. The outlet also released a report detailing how Swedish authorities are denying protection to Russians who fled the war, citing the supposed end of mobilization in Russia as justification.

The 7x7—Gorizontalnaya Rossiya [Horizontal Russia] news outlet published the story of Senior Lieutenant Dmitry Vasilets. In February 2022, Vasilets was sent to the frontline, but after returning from leave, he adopted the philosophy of Buddhism and decided not to participate in the war anymore. For this decision, he was sentenced to two years and five months in a penal settlement. Recently, Vasilets was released on parole.