The widow of anti-Kremlin activist Ildar Dadin, who was killed fighting for Ukraine last month, accused the Freedom of Russia Legion of burying her late husband without her permission and suggested that members of the pro-Kyiv paramilitary group may have covered up the cause of his death. Dadin had fought alongside the Ukrainian armed forces as a member of the Freedom of Russia Legion, which is made up of Russian nationals who took up arms against the Russian army after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Dadin’s relatives confirmed his death in early October, and his body was buried in Kyiv. The widow, Alessandra Sveshnikova, learned about his cremation and burial of his ashes from media reports and claimed that it happened without her knowledge or permission.
At Dadin’s funeral, one soldier spoke about his life as an uncompromising struggle against Putin’s inhumane system that is destroying Russia and its neighbors. Sveshnikova, in a Facebook post, expressed her efforts to retrieve her husband’s body from the Freedom of Russia Legion in order to bury him with dignity next to her father. She also shared screenshots of messages between her and members of the Legion, indicating that Dadin had not listed her as his wife or next-of-kin. Sveshnikova further claimed that Dadin had confided in her about conflicts with the Legion’s command that made him fear for his life, and she expressed doubts about the official cause of his death, which the Legion stated was from machine gun fire. The widow stated that she is starting to doubt that her husband was killed by Russian occupiers.
The Moscow Times, unable to immediately verify the claims, reached out to Sveshnikova for comment. She questioned the varying accounts of Dadin’s death, including initial reports of shelling or drone attacks before the Legion officially stated that he died from machine gun fire. Sveshnikova also mentioned that she was not contacted by anyone regarding her husband’s death, despite the fact that the Legion had his passport with their marriage stamp and a copy of their marriage certificate. In messages shared by Sveshnikova on social media, a representative from the group’s Facebook page informed her that Dadin had not indicated her as his wife or next-of-kin.
The situation surrounding the burial of Ildar Dadin and the circumstances of his death continue to raise questions and concerns. The widow’s efforts to retrieve her late husband’s body and her accusations against the Freedom of Russia Legion for burying him without her permission further complicate the matter. The conflicting information about Dadin’s cause of death, the discrepancies in communication with his widow, and the reported conflicts with the Legion’s command all contribute to a growing sense of suspicion and uncertainty surrounding the events leading to his tragic demise. Sveshnikova’s public statements and the messages she shared suggest a lack of transparency and accountability on the part of the paramilitary group, leaving many unanswered questions about the true circumstances of Dadin’s death and the handling of his remains. The need for a thorough investigation and clarification of these issues is essential in order to provide closure for the family and ensure justice for Ildar Dadin.
