Russia Honors Man 'Hero-Burial' Despite Brutally Murdering His Own Mother

Sergei Molodtsov, 46, a member of the Wagner Private Military Company who lost his life in the conflict in Ukraine, was buried with full military honors in Serov, a town in the Sverdlovsk Region's north. Yekaterinburg Online claims that Sergei was chosen for the position from a penal colony where he had been serving a sentence for the murder of his own mother.

He drunkenly beat his elderly mother to death, breaking her jaw, shoulder, face, and head,

According to a 2017 conviction judgement, he drunkenly battered his elderly mother to death shattering her jaw, shoulder, face, and head, local Russian media outlet E1 reported.

In 2017, Molodtsov was given a sentence of more than 11 years in a penal colony but only spent slightly more than 5 years there before being called up to war.

"While intoxicated, Molodtsov was in an apartment with his elderly mother. He delivered no less than six blows to her head, torso and extremities with his hands and legs" the verdict reads.

At the trial, he maintained his innocence by claiming that the woman fell accidentally. He claimed to have discovered her alive near the toilet, assisted her in getting up, made tea for his mother, and given her painkillers before discovering that her mother was not breathing when he returned from the kitchen.

The local government gave the following description of Molodtsov’s personality:

"He was a creative person; he was fond of bone carving and worked in a jewelry shop. Relatives remember Sergei as a remarkably unconventional man who loved life. He was an honest man. Truth was what mattered the most to him. He was always there for those in trouble, for those in need of help. Such people are called fun-loving guys. He loved music, freedom and speed. Blessed memory!"

The mayor of Serov confirmed the details on the deceased's criminal history: "He had been serving a sentence for a serious crime, he was a murderer." In spite of this, Molodtsov was buried on Jan. 5 as a hero. Russian soldiers brought his caskets to his funeral, where military veterans delivered final remarks.

On Jan. 4, The administration of the Serov urban district announced the death of Molodtsov. His funeral was held in the 'Farewell' funeral parlor Jan. 5. The local publication Globus points that there was a guard of honor adjacent to his closed casket, which was draped in the state flag.

The deputy head of the Serov urban district, Mikhail Kynkurogov, as well as officials of the city government, including chairman of the city union of Afghanistan veterans Andrei Petrusenko, attended the funeral.

According to information provided by prisoner rights group Russia Behind Bars, the New York Times claimed last week that the Wagner Group has enlisted more than 35,000 prisoners to serve in its army.