A PUTIN mercenary who saved a “cranium of a lifeless Ukrainian soldier” as a prize has been gunned down in a focused assault.
Igor Mangushev was shot within the head and rushed to a hospital in Donetsk, Ukraine, the place he’s reportedly in a “grave” situation.
The hit on the sick Russian propagandist occurred within the early hours of Saturday, January 4.
Analysts declare the assassination try could also be a warning to the chief of Russia’s mercenary Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Mangushev, 36, was one in all Russia’s most notable TV spin docs earlier than he enlisted in Putin’s military utilizing the decision identify, Bereg.
Surprising footage on social media confirmed Mangushev mendacity bloodied on a hospital mattress linked to “life assist” gear.
His pal Boris Rozhkin shared the picture, who described his situation as “grave”.
In line with The Telegraph, docs concluded he was shot from a handgun at shut vary.
No additional particulars of the assault could be confirmed.
Nevertheless, Russia professional Mark Galeotti believed Mangushev had vital ties to the Wagner group and that it may have been a proxy assault.
Galeotti mentioned: “I feel we are able to safely describe this as a success.
“This could possibly be a warning or taking a pawn off the board.
“Or it’s a signal that Mr Prigozhin’s extra thuggish rivals really feel he’s weakened sufficient that they will transfer.”
In August 2022, Mangushev disgraced himself publicly brandishing the cranium of a “lifeless Ukrainian fighter” throughout a stage present.
The cranium supposedly belonged to a slain fighter killed close to the Azovstal metal plant in Ukraine.
Throughout a speech, deranged Mangushev held up the cranium and mentioned: “We’re alive and this man is already lifeless.
“Let him burn in hell. He wasn’t fortunate. We’ll make a goblet out of his cranium.”
He ranted: “Why can’t there be any reconciliation?
“Ukraine should be de-Ukrainised. The Russian lands of Novorossiya should be returned again.
“We’re not at conflict with folks of blood and flesh. We’re at conflict with an thought — Ukraine as an anti-Russian state.
“That is the tragedy of Ukrainian troopers. We don’t care what number of we have now to kill them.
“If we have been at conflict with folks we may make peace with them.”
Mangushev is supposedly preventing in opposition to Ukraine however he’s additionally the top of nationalist motion Mild Russia and a creator of a personal military ENOT, which is claimed to have hyperlinks to the FSB.
The chilling efficiency with the human cranium violates the Felony Code of the Russian Federation and is a conflict crime in worldwide legislation.
On his Telegram channel, the twisted Russian has additionally brazenly known as for the killing of civilians.
His publish learn: “We’ll burn your homes, kill your households, take away your kids and lift them Russians.”