Elite evasion: Russia's cushy military unit for the powerful

The British Ministry of Defence revealed on Monday that there is a special unit within the Russian armed forces that allows members of the Russian elite to legally avoid military service. This unit, usually operating far from the front lines, ensures its members' safety.

In the daily intelligence report, it was stated that the husband of the popular Russian influencer, Yelena Blinovskaya, joined the Russian armed forces fighting in Ukraine. His decision was motivated by the desire to protect his wife from potential imprisonment related to tax evasion charges.

On April 15th, a photo of Andrey Blinovsky, who serves in a specially created unit of the Russian armed forces, BARS Kaskad, located near the border with Ukraine, was published.

As explained in the report, the BARS Kaskad unit was established on the initiative of Dmitry Sablin, vice-chairman of the defence committee in the State Duma. The unit's main task is to operate drones, usually far from the front line. The unit has been active since October 2022 and includes at least 10 members of the United Russia party and sons of Kremlin VIPs.

"Being drafted into BARS, Kaskad likely allows figures from the Russian elite to avoid the requirement of military service legally, with guaranteed safety, and the potential to curry favour with the Kremlin. Blinovsky is the first known case where someone joined the unit to help a family member avoid prison," - reads the report.