We will go to the military soon
The 21-year-old blogger Danya Milokhin, who returned to Russia at the start of September, is expected to be drafted for military service in fall 2023, according to a Mash Telegram channel report.
Milokhin has reportedly been registered with the army in the Krasnodar Territory since 2018, with Mash noting there was no need for the delays that occurred earlier.
Autumn conscription in Russia is set to begin on October 1.
It was also reported that Milokhin is the stepson of a blogger who indicated that the young man has vision problems that would exclude him from military service. It was noted that Milokhin has worn contact lenses since university due to myopia, but he has not required corrective surgery. His vision was described as 6.5.
“Patriotic education”
An appeal to the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, urging the enlistment of Milokhin, was published by Ekaterina Mizulina, head of the Safe Internet League, on a Telegram channel. The appeal asked the Defense Ministry to ensure Milokhin is added to the conscript list and to review the reasons behind why he has avoided subpoenas for the past three years. Mizulina stated that Milokhin’s return to Russia after a period abroad had upset many Russians because of his past statements, though she did not specify which comments were meant. Mizulina argued that Milokhin’s recruitment would contribute to patriotic education, allowing him to demonstrate loyalty and devotion in practice.
Arrival from Dubai
On September 8, Milokhin posted images from Moscow on his Instagram page, despite the platform’s association with an organization deemed extremist in Russia. The posts featured the Moscow Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral, and another blogger confirmed Milokhin’s return via a Telegram channel. A television presenter later urged that Milokhin be sent to the front in response to his earlier public performances.
These are among the first photos taken in the Russian capital after Milokhin left for the United Arab Emirates in 2022. He explained that departure as a chance to meet colleagues from a creators’ association known as Dream Team.
Ambiguous expressions
Milokhin traveled to Dubai during a high-profile show season, appearing in a performance with a renowned figure skater. He later said fatigue led him to leave the program, adding that he believed tasks should be done with love and that without love there is little point. In a later release, he responded to critics with a song cover that had drawn controversy elsewhere. He also performed the Ukrainian national anthem during a live session with a Ukrainian blogger, which drew sharp commentary from several media figures. A state commentator suggested that the relationship with a broader audience had become strained. A deputy of the State Duma commented that Milokhin had mishandled his public destiny, while a well-known activist urged authorities to consider him as a foreign agent and question his Russian citizenship. Milokhin expressed surprise at the reactions and noted that he had also sung the Russian anthem during the same broadcast, asking why people did not restrain him from singing it previously. His stance on the Ukraine conflict remained unclear, with no explicit public opinion expressed by him. In early 2023, Milokhin spoke about limited earnings after contracts in Russia became scarce, and he disclosed financial pressures, including selling a high-end car purchased for much more than its sale price and relying on friends for support for a period.