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Did you know that Alexey Oleinik, the UFC fighter competing at #UFCColumbus today, was once a member of a violent pro-Russian militia in Ukraine that disguised itself as an MMA fight club?
A short🧵:
A short🧵:
OPLOT was founded in 2010 by Yevhen Zhilin, a retired police captain and former Interior Minister officer who openly professed his loyalty to the Russian government.
The MMA club was based in the eastern city of Kharkiv & described itself as the “first fight club in Ukraine.”
The MMA club was based in the eastern city of Kharkiv & described itself as the “first fight club in Ukraine.”
Zhilin & his fighters were fiercely opposed to the anti-government protests in 2014. They targeted activists & were accused of kidnapping and torturing activist Dmytro Bulatov by cutting off his ear.
Here is mayor Vitali Klitschko visiting Bulatov in hospital after the attack
Here is mayor Vitali Klitschko visiting Bulatov in hospital after the attack
