Russian Volunteer Corps says its deputy commander has been abducted by unknown individuals

The Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) has said that its deputy commander for combat operations, Stepan Kaplunov, was abducted by unknown individuals in the courtyard of his home. [The Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) is a military and political organisation established in 2022 and consists of Russian volunteers who have been fighting for Ukraine since 2014 – ed.]

Source: RVC chief of staff Aleksandr Fortuna; Tetiana Sapian, communications adviser from the State Bureau of Investigation, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote from Fortuna: "Several days ago, RVC deputy commander for combat operations Stepan Kaplunov was abducted by unknown individuals in the courtyard of his home. As soon as we learned about his abduction, we immediately raised the alarm and contacted the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Bureau of Investigation.

We have still not received any clear information about either Stepan's whereabouts or the charges brought against him."

Details: Fortuna said they had informed the ombudsman and sent requests to lawyers.

The State Bureau of Investigation confirmed to Ukrainska Pravda that it had received a relevant statement from the serviceman's lawyers. "The investigators are currently examining it to determine whether it should be classified and entered into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations," Sapian said.

Background:

• On 27 December 2025, the RVC reported that its commander Denis "WhiteRex" Kapustin had been killed while carrying out a combat mission on the Zaporizhzhia front.
• It later emerged that the report of Kapustin's death was part of a special operation by Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, and that Kapustin is alive.

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