International

Russian opposition activist killed fighting for Ukraine

Published

1 year ago

October 7, 2024

Ildar Dadin

Russian opposition activist killed fighting for Ukraine

Ildar Dadin, a well-known Russian opposition activist who was fighting in Ukraine on the side of Kyiv, has been killed in action, according to the group that recruited him.

A spokeswoman for that group, the Civic Council, told the BBC that Dadin had died, adding that “he was, and he remains a hero”.

The activist-turned-fighter was killed when soldiers from his volunteer battalion, the Freedom of Russia Legion, came under Russian artillery fire in the Kharkiv region of north-eastern Ukraine.

For now, there are no more details and the Legion itself won’t comment whilst it says a military operation is still active.

But Ilia Ponamarev, an exiled Russian opposition politician with previous links to the Legion, has told the BBC he is “certain, alas” that Dadin is dead.

Another source clarified that this was “confirmed by those who were with him in battle”.

The latest messages I’ve sent to his phone are still marked “unread”.

Ildar Dadin became known in Russia a decade ago for his persistence in staging peaceful protests as political repression there intensified.

He was the first person prosecuted under a new Article 212.1 – quickly dubbed Dadin’s Law – that in 2014 made it a criminal offence to commit repeat violations of Russia’s increasingly restrictive rules on protest.

In his case, that simply meant standing on the streets of Moscow with a banner.

Sentenced to two and a half years, Dadin was placed in a punishment cell and immediately went on hunger strike. His prison guards then tortured him to get him to stop.

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Soon after his release in 2017, I met him in Moscow and he described being hung from a wall by his cuffed wrists. The guards had then threatened him with rape. He admitted that the brutality nearly broke him.

So when I learned that Dadin had joined a battalion of Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine, I got back in touch earlier this year and we had a series of long exchanges.

“I can’t sit by and do nothing and so become an accomplice to Russian evil, to its crimes,” Dadin explained his decision to sign-up, just as principled and intense as I remembered him.

He’d always considered himself a pacifist but now listed his reasons for taking-up arms: “The aggression, the mass killing, the torture, rape and looting.” Still, he chose the callsign Gandhi.

Dadin felt deeply that that he bore personal responsibility for Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour.

He argued that he and fellow Russians had failed to stop Vladimir Putin, allowing themselves to be scared off the streets by police violence and the threat of prison.

“The main thing now is to act according to my conscience,” Dadin wrote to me one night from near the frontline in Sumy.

He initially signed-up with the Siberian Battalion in June 2023 before moving to the Freedom of Russia Legion last winter – both officially part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Recruits are mainly Russian citizens who hope that helping Ukraine defeat Vladimir Putin will be a first step towards ending his rule in the Kremlin.

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Their numbers aren’t clear, nor their effectiveness as a fighting force.

They have claimed some successes, including a cross-border incursion into Russia earlier this year at the time of Putin’s re-election.

But for Dadin, the experience wasn’t quite as he’d hoped.

He felt that some of the missions his unit were sent on were “pointless” in any military sense.

He described one battle where he ended up pinned down for eight hours by Russian fire in a bomb crater, with a drone trying to drop a grenade on him, whilst a fellow volunteer soldier bled to death.

And like many Ukrainian soldiers, he was exhausted, fighting with barely any days off and limping from a wound to his hip.

I wondered whether he might leave, but Dadin was clear his conscience would not allow him to sit “on the sidelines”.

Not whilst Ukrainians were being killed, as he put it, “by Russian criminals”.

“I tried to stop Russia – but did I do it? No,” he berated himself in one of our last chats. “And thousands of people have been killed because I did not do enough.”

Those who sent him to fight, disagree. “Ildar was strong, brave, principled and honest,” the Civic Council wrote. “That’s how we should remember him.”

Russian opposition activist killed fighting for Ukraine

BBC

International

Iran Threatens Severe Retaliation After Israel Kills Quds Force Commander

Published

19 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Trends Admin

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

Iran Threatens Severe Retaliation After Israel Kills Quds Force Commander

Israel has announced the killing of a senior Iranian military commander, Asghar Bagheri, in a targeted airstrike in Tehran, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.

According to the Israeli military, the strike—carried out by its air force—eliminated Bagheri, who led the Quds Force special operations unit (Unit 840) since 2019. The military described him as a key figure involved in coordinating attacks against Israeli and American targets worldwide.

The Quds Force, a unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), oversees the country’s overseas military and intelligence operations, including support for allied armed groups across the Middle East. Israeli officials said Bagheri had held several influential roles within the unit and was considered a high-value target.

Iran has yet to officially confirm the killing but has issued strong warnings of retaliation. A spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters cautioned that further escalation could have catastrophic consequences.

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The spokesperson warned that if hostilities continue to expand, the “entire region will turn into hell,” adding that attempts to defeat Iran have “turned into a swamp” that would ultimately trap its adversaries.

The development comes amid heightened tensions involving US President Donald Trump, who recently issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to either strike a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route. Trump warned that failure to comply would result in severe consequences, further intensifying fears of a wider regional conflict.

The crisis follows the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in a missile strike earlier this year—an event that triggered retaliatory attacks by Iran on Israeli and US positions.

Since then, the conflict has escalated into a broader confrontation, disrupting global trade after Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a route responsible for transporting about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply.

Security analysts warn that Israel’s continued targeting of senior Iranian commanders, combined with escalating rhetoric from Tehran and Washington, could push the Middle East toward a full-scale war with serious global economic and security implications.

In summary, Israel’s killing of a top Quds Force commander in Tehran has intensified the already volatile Middle East crisis, raising concerns about further retaliation and a possible wider war.

Iran Threatens Severe Retaliation After Israel Kills Quds Force Commander

International

Trump Claims US Sent Weapons to Iranian Protesters but Diverted

Published

19 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Trends Admin

US President Donald Trump

Trump Claims US Sent Weapons to Iranian Protesters but Diverted

US President Donald Trump has revealed that the United States attempted to secretly supply weapons to Iranian protesters, but the operation failed after the arms were allegedly diverted before reaching their intended recipients.

Speaking at a White House Easter event, Trump said the weapons were meant to support Iranian anti-government protesters in defending themselves against authorities amid ongoing unrest. According to him, the US sent “a lot of guns” intended to empower citizens resisting government forces.

However, the plan did not succeed. Trump disclosed that the weapons never reached the protesters, claiming that those entrusted with delivering them withheld the arms. He expressed strong frustration over the outcome, warning that the individuals or group responsible would “pay a big price.”

Although Trump did not publicly name those involved during his remarks, he had earlier indicated that Kurdish intermediaries were responsible for diverting the weapons. He alleged that the arms were routed through Kurdish channels into Iran but were never passed on to the protesters as planned.

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The accusation has been strongly denied by Kurdish groups, who have rejected claims that they intercepted or kept any US-supplied weapons. The conflicting accounts have added a layer of controversy to an already sensitive geopolitical situation.

The disclosure is being widely interpreted as a rare acknowledgment of a covert US effort to influence internal developments in Iran. Analysts warn that such statements could heighten tensions between Washington and Tehran, especially at a time of escalating rhetoric and threats.

The development also lends weight to longstanding claims by Iranian authorities that foreign powers have played a role in fueling domestic protests. With tensions already high, Trump’s remarks could further complicate diplomatic dynamics and deepen mistrust between the two countries.

In summary, Trump’s claim that the US attempted to arm Iranian protesters—but failed due to alleged diversion—has sparked fresh debate over foreign involvement in Iran’s unrest and raised concerns about its broader geopolitical implications.

Trump Claims US Sent Weapons to Iranian Protesters but Diverted

International

Trump threatens ‘hell’ for Iran over Hormuz Strait as deadline approaches

Published

1 day ago

April 6, 2026

Trends Admin

Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei and United States President Donald Trump

Trump threatens ‘hell’ for Iran over Hormuz Strait as deadline approaches

US President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with Iran by issuing a profane ultimatum, warning of attacks on Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping by a Tuesday deadline. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime passage for nearly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports, and its closure has contributed to rising global energy prices.

Trump’s threat followed the successful rescue of a US fighter pilot shot down over Iran, after an intense search in southwestern Iran. Despite the rescue, Trump reaffirmed his ultimatum in posts on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. Open the f‑in’ Strait… or you’ll be living in Hell.” He also indicated that there was a “good chance” a deal could be reached with Tehran, but warned of potential broader military action if diplomacy fails.

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Iran dismissed Trump’s ultimatum as “helpless, nervous, unbalanced, and stupid,” with officials warning that any aggressive action could provoke serious retaliation. Tehran has indicated it will only reopen the Strait once a portion of transit fees compensates for war-related damages. Iranian military officials reiterated that threats to civilian infrastructure would escalate tensions across the region.

The latest warnings extend an ongoing series of US-Iran confrontations. Since the start of the conflict, Iran has fired missiles and drones at Israel and US-allied Gulf nations, while US and Israeli forces have conducted airstrikes on Iranian facilities, including petrochemical plants and the Qasem Soleimani international airport. Civilian infrastructure in the region has sustained significant damage, with injuries reported in Israel and fires at facilities in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait caused by Iranian drone attacks.

Trump has repeatedly extended deadlines for reopening the strait, reflecting both escalating tensions and ongoing negotiations. Analysts warn that further aggression could destabilize the Middle East, disrupt global energy markets, and intensify the humanitarian crisis across affected regions.

The situation remains fluid, with global attention focused on Tehran’s response, US military positioning, and the broader implications for international security and oil markets.