Men Claiming to Be Former Wagner Fighters Assault Journalist Filming Gas Station Line in Yekaterinburg
A freelance journalist for the independent Russian outlet It's My City was assaulted on July 7 while filming a long line at a Gazprom Neft station in Yekaterinburg. The attackers, who claimed to be former Wagner Group fighters from the Belgorod region, accused the journalist of causing deaths at the front and asked if he wanted to go to the 'SVO'.
The independent news outlet It's My City reported on July 8 that one of its freelance journalists was assaulted on the evening of July 7 at a Gazprom Neft station on Kosmonavtov Avenue in Yekaterinburg. The journalist was filming the long line of cars waiting for fuel when two men from the queue rushed over, grabbed him by his clothing and bag, punched him in the chest, and seized his mobile phone.
According to the journalist, the attackers identified themselves as "former Wagner Group fighters" from the Belgorod region. They told him, "Because of people like you, guys are constantly dying at the front," and repeatedly asked, "Do you want to go to the SVO?" — a reference to Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine. The men then called police, claiming they had caught someone "filming gas stations for Ukrainians." Officers never arrived at the scene.
After refueling their vehicles, the attackers photographed the journalist's passport, copied his personal information, returned his belongings, and let him go.
The assault took place amid a severe fuel crisis in Russia, triggered by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. Restrictions on gasoline sales have been imposed across the country, leading to long lines at filling stations.
