Evgeny Russkikh

Affiliated media: YouTube channel "Beautiful Russia” (Prekrasnaya Rossiya) , Co-author

Incident date: January 8, 2026

Attack type:

• Non-fatal attack / beating / injury / torture

Who attacked: Unknown sources

Source: Mediazona

Location: Russia, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Yekaterinburg

Additional information:

In Yekaterinburg, eight unidentified men attacked Evgeny Anisimov and Evgeny Russkikh, the authors of the YouTube channel “Beautiful Russia.” The assault occurred after an event they had attended at the invitation of local businessman and activist Sergei Shuneev. Doctors diagnosed Russkikh with three broken ribs, a fractured nose, a concussion, and kidney damage. Anisimov suffered a concussion, a closed head injury, and a fractured cheekbone, and he required surgery. “Beautiful Russia,” which has around 200,000 subscribers, publishes investigations into corruption and criticises local authorities. Harassment of the project’s authors began in spring 2024, when criminal cases were opened against them on charges of defamation (Article 128.1 of the Criminal Code) and violation of privacy (Article 137). In February 2025, Anisimov was detained under Part 2 of Article 282 (incitement of hatred) and held in pretrial detention for two months.