Sons of Russian killed in sledgehammer attack condemn ‘fascists’

Sons of a former Russian fighter have spoken out after a pro-Vladimir Putin mercenary group bludgeoned their father to death with a sledgehammer. Ilya and Nikita Nuzhin said Yevgeny Nuzhin, 55, died after members of the infamous Wagner group killed him for “treachery”. The extrajudicial killing came after ex-con Mr Nuzhin allegedly defected to fight for Ukraine.Footage posted by pro-Russian sources showed the soldier – who was recruited from a Russian jail to fight as a Wagner mercenary – as he was brutally beaten to death.His sons said he was killed “like an animal” without a court investigation while held in Wagner group custody.Speaking to Vladimir Osechkin, the head of gulagu.net, a Russian human rights group, Ilya Nuzhin, 31, said he and his wife were “petrified” by the video.The footage showed unidentified men wearing combat fatigues raining sledgehammer blows down on his father, who was taped to a brick wall.READ MORE: Russia told to end ‘barbaric’ war on Ukraine by Rishi Sunak Sons of Russian killed ‘like an animal’ in sledgehammer attack condemn pro-Putin ‘fascists’ (Image: East2West) Ilya Nuzhin said his father was killed “like an animal” (Image: East2West)Unverified reports state that Mr Nuzhin sr fell back into Wagner hands after he was traded by Ukrainian officials.He was first recruited into the group’s ranks from prison, where he was serving a 24-year prison sentence for a murder committed in 1999.He had absconded from Russian ranks after criticising the invasion, stating Putin was using he and his fellow soldiers as ‘cannon fodder’.After he joined Ukraine, reports suggest he became a bargaining chip for the country to receive up to 20 soldiers in a trade.DON’T MISS:Pro-war ultranationalist ‘Putin’s brain’ U-turns on furious death threat to Russian despot – INSIGHTG20 summit LIVE: Sunak issues stark four-word warning to Putin’s key ally Lavrov – VIDEOUkraine LIVE: Horror as Russian troops leave animals hanging in trees as ‘entertainment’ – LIVE BLOG Reports that the prisoner was traded for Ukrainian soldiers are unverified (Image: GETTY)Experts estimate the group first saw action in 2014, when it reportedly had a role in annexing Crimea for Russia.British military intelligence officials believe Wagner has deployed 1,000 mercenaries to the new front in Ukraine, and helped orchestrate “false flag” attacks.Other officials from Germany have since linked the group to war crimes, including the killing of civilians in Bucha.The UK and EU are among countries that have placed sanctions on Wagner in recent years.