Ildar Dadin, a prominent Russian opposition activist, has been confirmed dead while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces.

His death was announced by the Civic Council, the group that recruited him. A spokeswoman for the organization stated, “He was, and he remains a hero.”

Dadin, a member of the Freedom of Russia Legion, was killed when his battalion came under Russian artillery fire in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine.

While details remain limited due to ongoing military operations, Ilia Ponamarev, an exiled Russian politician with ties to the Legion, expressed his certainty about Dadin’s death, noting it was confirmed by fellow fighters present during the incident. Messages sent to Dadin’s phone remain unread, adding to concerns about his fate.

Known for his resilience in organizing peaceful protests in Russia, Dadin gained notoriety a decade ago as political repression intensified. He was the first person prosecuted under a controversial law—commonly referred to as Dadin’s Law—enacted in 2014, which criminalized repeat violations of protest regulations. His actions, which included standing with a banner in Moscow, led to a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, during which he faced severe mistreatment, including torture and threats of sexual violence.

Following his release in 2017, Dadin described his traumatic experiences in prison, detailing how guards had hung him by his wrists and subjected him to brutal treatment. Despite these hardships, he remained a staunch advocate for change.

Earlier this year, after learning that Dadin had joined a battalion of Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine, the BBC reached out to him. In their exchanges, Dadin articulated his motivation for joining the fight: “I can’t sit by and do nothing and so become an accomplice to Russian evil, to its crimes.” Although he had always considered himself a pacifist, he felt compelled to take up arms against the atrocities he witnessed, stating, “The aggression, the mass killing, the torture, rape and looting.” He chose the callsign “Gandhi,” reflecting his complex views on violence and resistance.

Dadin believed he bore a personal responsibility for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, underscoring his commitment to opposing the actions of his homeland. His legacy as a fighter for justice, both in protests and on the battlefield, remains impactful.