# ‘Our focus is weakening the Russian army’: For four years, Grigory Sverdlin’s aid group has helped Russians evade the draft and desert

https://mins.news/en/item/67271

- Meduza, 2026-09-21 11:42 UTC
- Society
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/09/21/our-focus-is-weakening-the-russian-army-for-four-years-grigory-sverdlin-s-aid-group-has-helped-russians-evade-the-draft-and-desert

> After Vladimir Putin announced “partial” mobilization in 2022, Grigory Sverdlin launched Idite Lesom (“Get Lost”) to help Russians avoid mobilization or leave the military. The group says it has assisted more than 82,000 people. Volunteers, psychologists, lawyers, programmers, and designers based outside Russia created guides on raids and draft summonses.

## Related coverage

- [Russians leave before election ends, fearing mobilisation to follow](https://mins.news/en/item/65183) — euronews, 2026-09-19