Russian Police Chief Accused of Running Gang That Abducted Men for Ukraine War

A police chief in Russia’s Ivanovo region has been accused of organising a criminal gang that kidnapped men and forced them to enlist to fight in Ukraine. The case raises concerns about coercion into military service and follows reports of similar schemes elsewhere in Russia.

A court ordered Yury Shibayev, head of police in Komsomolsky district, held in pretrial detention until 2 January. He denies charges of kidnapping, fraud and unauthorised access to computer data; investigators have not detailed his alleged role. The investigation involves 15 people and at least seven victims. Reports describe men being lured with promises of work or taken by force, then made to sign military contracts; similar alleged schemes have been reported in the Vologda and Sverdlovsk regions.