Former Defense Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Igor Strelkov, is reportedly leaving a penal colony to join the Special Military Operation (SVO) zone, according to the SHOT Telegram channel. This information, which surfaced on September 6, suggests that lawyers have managed to arrange a replacement of Strelkov’s prison sentence with service in the conflict zone. However, details remain unconfirmed.
Strelkov’s lawyer, Alexander Molokhov, responded to these claims by describing them as mere rumors. He indicated that official confirmation or denial of the reports would be premature at this stage. Molokhov emphasized that the defense team and the family are awaiting more concrete information before making any public statements. He noted that formal procedures had yet to be fully addressed.
Compounding the uncertainty, Strelkov’s wife, Miroslava Reginskaya, has rejected the reports as inaccurate. She stated in her Telegram channel that neither the defense nor the family had any information confirming Strelkov’s transfer to the front lines. Reginskaya affirmed that while Strelkov has expressed a desire to serve his country, there is no current indication of such a transfer.
Strelkov was sentenced to four years in a general regime penal colony by the Moscow City Court in January 2024 for public calls for extremism. The charges stemmed from posts on his Telegram channel alleging treason and military allowance issues related to Crimea. The case remains classified, and Strelkov has maintained his innocence, asserting his dedication to his country.
As of now, the situation remains fluid, with conflicting reports and statements contributing to the uncertainty surrounding Strelkov’s fate.