Russian draft-evasion network Idite Lesom helps tens of thousands avoid mobilization

In response to the Russian government’s September 2022 partial mobilization, Grigory Sverdlin, formerly of the homeless-aid foundation Nochlezhka, created Idite Lesom (“Get Lost”). The initiative provides step-by-step guidance for Russians seeking to avoid conscription or desert, relying on a network of volunteers and staff based outside Russia. Within its first weeks the platform fielded more than 300 inquiries, ranging from simple summons advice to complex border-crossing logistics, and it now supports over 82,000 individuals.

Volunteers, many of whom are recent émigrés, handle routine cases, while a specialized “foresters” team tackles high-risk situations such as illegal border crossings and desertion. Funding comes from small donations, including cryptocurrency, and the group operates without a formal legal entity. Idite Lesom’s explicit goal is to weaken the Russian army by preventing conscripts from serving and facilitating the exit of those already enlisted.