He was born near Moscow. He shunned Russian citizenship. He was the first person who was unjustly convicted under the article for repeatedly violating the rules of holding rallies in Russia. He was a real Tatar batyr. He laid down on the battlefield for Ukraine.
On 5 October information appeared in the mass media about the death of Ildar Dadin, nicknamed “Ganda”. It is a matter of honour and a matter of gratitude for Ukrainians to know the names of such Heroes as Ildar Dadin, the brave son of the Tatar people, even after he paid a high price and made the greatest sacrifice, protecting our native land, the ideals of freedom and the right to fight for the freedom and independence of enslaved nations.
Ildar Dadin was born on 14 April 1982 in the town of Zheleznodorozhny, not far from the imperial capital. As a child, he often travelled with his family to Tatarstan, where his relatives lived. He studied at the Moscow State Institute of Steel and Alloy at the Faculty of Economics, then transferred to the Faculty of Metallurgy. He did not complete his studies. He completed his military service in Anapa, and then in Vladivostok. He worked in banking institutions.
Starting in August 2014, Dadin actively participated in individual protest pickets, due to which he was repeatedly detained by imperial law enforcement agencies. On the last day of the administrative arrest, 30 January 2015, he was taken to the Basmanny Court in Moscow, where he was supposed to be tried for the 5 December 2014 action on Myasnitskaya Street in support of Ukraine, when several activists blocked the street for several minutes. During his detention on 6 August 2014, he suffered a bloodied beating by the police. As a result, Dadin was sentenced to three years for supporting Ukraine and his civil position. In September 2016, Dadin was sent to serve his sentence in a correctional colony in Karelia, from where he reported through his lawyer and his wife that he had been tortured and beaten by the colony’s staff and its head personally.
Dadin was recognized as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. On 24 November 2016, the European Parliament called for the dismissal of Dadin.
On 22 January 2017, the sentence against Dadin was overturned by the Presidium of the Supreme Court of Russia, the criminal case was suspended, and Dadin was granted the right to rehabilitation. On 26 February Dadin was released, and spent 1 year and 2 months in prison. The article under which he was convicted was given the unofficial name “Dadinskaya”. After his dismissal, he continued to participate in protests and rallies.
In March 2022, after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ildar moved from Russia to Poland to then fight on the side of Ukraine. In Poland for a year, he drew up documents for participation in a volunteer battalion, then he came to Ukraine and in June 2023 joined the ranks of the ” Siberian Battalion “. From December 2023, he fought in the “Freedom of Russia” legion.
Dadin was sure that only armed resistance could be the most effective in the fight against Putin’s regime. “Russia criminally, completely unjustifiably and unjustly attacked Ukraine, committing mass and cruel crimes: murders, torture, rape, executions, both against worthy people – defenders of their country, and simply against innocent people, without remorse against women, children, and the elderly. In my opinion, the only effective way left for a decent person to resist Russian crimes is armed resistance,” Dadin emphasized in his brief comments to the media.
Ukrainian mass media often called Dadin a “Russian oppositionist and public activist.” Yes, he was an effective opponent of the Putin regime, but we should not forget the fact that Dadin was a Tatar by origin and never shied away from this origin. In his veins flowed the blood of ancient batyrs – fighters for the freedom of the Tatar people. That is why it was more correct and accurate to call Dadin a Tatar social activist and oppositionist.
Ildar Dadin died as a real knight in a battle with Russian troops in the Kharkiv region. His short but bright life is an example of genuine self-sacrifice and faith in one’s ideals. At the same time, Ildar Dadin is a clear guide and an example for hundreds of thousands of representatives of enslaved nations, whom the empire turns into “cannon fodder”: they should not die for the interests of their oppressors! It is better to go to the bright side of the truth and fight with arms in hand not only against Putin’s regime but also for the liberation of their enslaved nations from imperial oppression.
Eternal Glory to the Great Hero Ildar Dadin!
Thank you, glorious son of the free Tatar people!
