Published 26th Sep, 2022

By Tola Owoyele

Ruslan Zinin, a Russian man, shot the leader of a local military enlistment committee in Irkutsk, Siberia, a vast Russian province encompassing most of Northern Asia, after his friend was drafted for the war in Ukraine.

According to The Moscow Times, Zinin, 25, shot Alexander Yeliseyev, the recruitment officer at close range on Monday in protest of his friend’s forceful conscription into the Russian army, sending others scampering for safety at the hall used for the exercise.

The incident is one of the most dramatic instances of outrage, resistance and displeasure from Russians over Vladimir Putin’s decision to draft around 300,000 reservists from Russian provinces as the battle in Ukraine continues.

Igor Kobzev, the governor of the region, said Yeliseyev had been critically wounded and was now fighting for his life as a result of the shooting.

According to Marina Zinina, Zinin’s mother, her son became very upset when his friend, who remains unnamed, allegedly received draft papers without any prior military experience, and despite Russia’s pledge to strictly recruit experienced reservists.

“Ruslan (Zinin) himself did not receive summons, but his best friend did yesterday,” Zinina said.

Zinin was said to have stormed the recruitment centre yelling “no is going anywhere” before going on a shooting rampage. He has been arrested by local authorities.

Since Putin made the additional conscription announcement on September 21, close to 20 recruitment offices have been torched across Russia’s many provinces.

Thousands of Russians have also stormed the streets in protest of the announcement, leading to more than 100 police detentions.

Also, on Monday, a man in the western city of Ryazan, set himself on fire at a bus station while saying he did not want to take part in the war in Ukraine.

Share on Social Media