Wagner Group fighter reportedly beaten and shot with air pistol in Russia's Rostov region

A Wagner Group mercenary who took part in the invasion of Ukraine was reportedly attacked in the city of Bataysk in Russia’s Rostov region on Sunday.

According to the local news outlet 161.ru, the incident occurred in a city park and involved a 28-year-old Wagner Group fighter named Vyacheslav K. After an argument broke out between the mercenary and another man, the man reportedly took out an air pistol and fired 12 shots at Vyacheslav, one of which hit him in the head.

The Telegram channel Ostorozhno, Novosti gave a different account of the attack. Citing people close to the mercenary, it wrote that after an altercation, 10–20 “guests of our country” ran out of a cafe before beating Vyacheslav K. and shooting him at point blank range. The sources said that the attackers shouted insults at the mercenary based on his nationality and his participation in the war in Ukraine. He was reportedly hospitalized in serious condition after the incident but will recover.

The channel also said that Vyacheslav K. has traveled to Africa as part of Wagner Group multiple times and was planning to return to Ukraine in the near future.

According to Rostov Governor Vasily Golubev, a criminal case has been opened over the attack.