A Rostov regional court ordered the return of Gennady Fedko, a member of the Skif volunteer unit who participated in a special military operation, to Moldova. He could not extend his stay in Russia before the ruling, a decision announced by the press service of the Terek reconnaissance brigade.
On September 12, border guards at a checkpoint between the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Rostov region detained a Moldovan foreman from the 1st company who uses the call sign Simon. The following day, a Donetsk court in the Rostov region found Fedko in violation of migration registration rules and ordered his deportation to his homeland.
According to the Terek brigade, Fedko left the Northern Military District to renew his contract and did not have time to align frontline service with immigration registration requirements. The brigade noted that he remains in a pre-trial detention facility and faces deportation to Moldova, with possible penalties related to mercenary charges. Authorities are monitoring the case as it unfolds.
In a public appeal, the leadership and fighters of the Terek brigade asked President Vladimir Putin and the head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, to review Fedko’s situation and to ensure his protection during the ongoing process.
Earlier reports highlighted related difficulties in other regions, including warnings from the Urals about elderly parents of a participant in the Special Military Operation being evicted from their home. These events are part of broader concerns about how individuals connected to the operation and their families are treated, as reported by the Terek brigade’s press service.
The case demonstrates how migration enforcement intersects with military service and how front-line duties can complicate administrative tasks. Analysts note that the situation may raise questions about due process for mobilized individuals, the timing of registration actions, and the remedies available to those navigating a busy and scrutinized system. The involvement of high-ranking officials in requests for review underscores the interest surrounding Fedko’s fate and the potential impact on others in similar circumstances.
As developments unfold, experts stress the need for clarity in applying migration rules to participants in special operations and for transparent processes that protect legal rights without compromising national security. The broader social impact is felt in communities near military deployments, where families and associates of those serving report increased anxiety and uncertainty about residency status and safety. The Rostov case thus becomes a focal point for discussions about legal rights, accountability, and the balance between service obligations and immigration duties during periods of heightened security concerns, according to observers familiar with the situation.