Attackers injure pro-Russia judge who sentenced foreigners to death in Ukraine

The three men, who Pushilin described as "Nazi war criminals," were released in September as part of a major prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia.

 Smoke rises after a missile strike, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine in this screen grab taken from a handout video released July 16, 2022. (photo credit: State National Police of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS)
Smoke rises after a missile strike, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine in this screen grab taken from a handout video released July 16, 2022.
(photo credit: State National Police of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS)

Ukrainian attackers shot and seriously injured a judge in an eastern Russian-controlled region of Ukraine who sentenced three foreigners to death in June, a pro-Moscow official said on Saturday.

Denis Pushilin, the administrator of Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine's Donetsk region, said Alexander Nikulin had been injured late on Friday in the town of Vuhlehirsk to the northeast of the city of Donetsk.

"The Ukrainian regime continues to display its vile terrorist methods," Pushilin wrote on Telegram.

"The Ukrainian regime continues to display its vile terrorist methods."

Denis Pushilin

Doctors assessed Nikulin to be in a serious but stable condition, he added.

In June, Nikulin passed death sentences on two Britons and a Moroccan who was captured while fighting for Ukraine, ruling they had tried to overthrow local authorities.

 Ukrainian servicemen fire towards Russian troops on self-propelled AHS Krab howitzer as Russia's attack in Ukraine continues ,in Donetsk region, Ukraine, August 23, 2022. (credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS)
Ukrainian servicemen fire towards Russian troops on self-propelled AHS Krab howitzer as Russia's attack in Ukraine continues ,in Donetsk region, Ukraine, August 23, 2022. (credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS)

"Nazi war criminals"

The three men, who Pushilin described as "Nazi war criminals," were released in September as part of a major prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia.

A number of Russian-installed officials have been killed and injured in recent months in apparent assassination attempts.