13:16 UTC +3 After talking to Bashkortostan's head Radiy Khabirov, the fighter gave himself up to the police. The grenades were seized from him and given over to the Russian National Guard, local media write.

A volunteer fighter in the Russian city of Ufa fled his unit while on the way to a psychiatric assessment, Baza and Mash reported on Wednesday.

The 39-year old Ildar B. went out onto the highway and began threatening to use a grenade if charges against him (for leaving his military unit) are not dropped. According to the Mash Telegram channel, the man has two grenades in his hands and another four on his body.

The area has been cordoned off by law enforcement and emergency services. The police are negotiating with the man, who demanded to meet the head of the Bashkortostan Republic Radiy Khabirov. Khabirov’s press office told the media that he is on his way to the spot.

On 19 July, Mediazona wrote that Russian courts had received over 2,000 cases concerning the unauthorised abandonment of military units in 2023 — a twofold increase in comparison to 2022. Most of those convicted of unlawfully leaving their unit were mobilised soldiers.

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