Vladimir Antonov, 44, who belonged to the Wagner mercenary group, was shot dead by a sniper near Kharkov.
A Russian mercenary, notorious for his brutality while involved in the massacre of prisoners of war and civilians in Donbas, has been killed fighting in Ukraine.
THE Vladimir Antonov, The 44-year-old, who belonged to the shadowy Wagner mercenary group, was shot dead by snipers near Kharkiv during reconnaissance missions on June 5, according to Russian media quoted by the Daily Mail.
Antonov had served in the regular Russian army for several years before rejoining the army as a mercenary after failing to complete his training as a teacher. He fought in Russia’s first invasion of Ukraine in 2014, followed by Libya and Syria.
Antonov was known to the Russians as “Vakha” or “the volunteer from Buryatia” from his area of ​​origin, but the Ukrainians called him “The Executioner” participated in massacres during the first Russian invasion of the country in 2014. He is accused in particular of participating in the massacre of prisoners of war in Logvinovo, in Donbass district, in 2014.
His death was confirmed by the head of the region from which he came, who spoke to the Russian newspaper Moskovskij Komsomolets.
Antonov was killed during the new counterattack launched the Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region, pushing the Russian forces towards their borders.
In late March, the Pentagon announced that the Russians had sent 1,000 mercenaries in Donbass.
