Adam Kalinin, an IT specialist from southern Russia, has been living in the woods for over a month to avoid getting drafted. An interview with him was published by Mediazona news outlet.
Adam Kalinin. Screenshot: a video published by “Logical Woodsman” Telegram channel
Kalinin has previously spoken out against the war in Ukraine. He was issued several fines for attending anti-war rallies, the media outlet writes. After mobilisation was announced in Russia, he set up camp in the forest rather than wait for a draft notice.
“I have always had this choice: either one day I will go to a store and will be caught by the military draft officials, or I can live in the woods, perhaps not the most comfortably, but free. It wasn’t exactly an easy decision,” he said.
The man said that he considers draft exemptions for IT specialists an “unreliable” option, as there are many requirements for getting one. He did not want to leave Russia either.
Kalinin continues to work remotely five days a week from the forest: he set up two tents, one for sleeping, and one for work.
“The reason I have them separated is that I’ve found this nice location, protected from the wind, with lots of sunshine, everything is cool — but there’s no internet. And the location of my office is not that ideal, if the wind starts blowing, it gets pretty nasty out there, but there is the internet,” he explained.
Kalinin also mounted an antenna on a pine tree. Photo: “Logical Woodsman” Telegram channel
The man uses solar batteries to charge his devices. He also set up a food stash in a special container by the road, where he stores food that does not go bad, like instant noodles, tea, canned food. It takes him about an hour to get to the food stash from the camp site in the woods.
Adam cooks with a composite gas cylinder and a burner. He also collects rainwater using a plastic sheet spread out over the grass for cooking and drinking.
Kalinin has not seen his friends or relatives during his time in the woods. He has a Telegram channel where he talks about his life. Today, the IT specialist wrote that he had paid a 30,000-ruble (€490) fine for carrying a No to War sign.
