In Crimea, the “Medvedy” military brigades brutally beat people in a cafe

In the village of Chernomorskoe in the annexed Crimea, Russian soldiers from the 81st volunteer brigade “Medvedy” broke into the “Krepost” cafe, started shooting in the air and severely beat the patrons. This was reported by “Vazhnye istorii” and a number of Telegram channels, including pro-military ones.

Video from surveillance cameras appeared in the community of the village on social networks VKontakte, reports Krym.Realii. The video shows people in military uniform insulting civilians, beating them with batons, shooting in the air and near people’s heads. The attack allegedly took place on the night of February 23 to 24.

One of the eyewitnesses of the incident wrote on social networks: “My beloved person is in a serious condition in the hospital… My heart is bleeding from the atrocity.” She called for the video to be distributed, and later told “Important Stories” the details of the attack. It is confirmed that two soldiers had a conflict with visitors to the cafe where they were celebrating the February 23 holiday. “They didn’t like something, and they released reinforcements from the “Bears” unit,” the witness says.

Russian pro-military Telegram channels write that a criminal case has been initiated as a result of the attack (this was not officially reported). Some channels, with reference to the military, claim that the perpetrators of the attack on cafe patrons were “very well punished at the unit level”, while publishing photos of heavily beaten men. It is claimed that these people are the initiators of the attack. Judging by the context, as a disciplinary measure they were beaten by their colleagues.

The 81st Volunteer Brigade “Medvedy” was created in 2023 in Crimea. As Krym.Realii wrote, it is part of the PMC “Redut”, which is controlled by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. “Medved” is probably located in a military town in the village of Perevalnoe. “Medveday” instructors trained the so-called People’s Militia of Crimea – allegedly at the request of the Russian head of the annexed peninsula, Sergei Aksyonov. Aksyonov’s advisor Oleg Kryuchkov later stated that “Medvedy” is not related to the Russian authorities of Crimea.