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A notorious crime boss caught up in long-running underworld feuds has been gunned down at close range in a shocking attack outside a petrol station.
Yanis Yushvaev, 40, was killed as he left a petrol station near Caesarea, around 30 miles north of Tel Aviv, Israel.
CCTV footage of the attack shows a man wearing a hat, hoodie and glasses walking casually towards a short staircase — the entrance of the petrol station.
Yushvaev can then be seen leaving the building with two associates.
As the trio approach the exit, the suspected gunman positions himself beside the glass door, before pulling out a concealed pistol and shooting Yushvaev in the back of the head while the men have their backs turned.
The crime boss collapses and tumbles down the stairs as the gunman runs from the scene.
Yushvaev suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Police have said they believe the killing was criminally motivated and launched a major investigation, with the suspects believed to have escaped in a vehicle.
Yushvaev was regarded as one of Israel's most notorious organized crime figures and had previously been arrested in connection with shootings, arson attacks and violent clashes between rival criminal groups.
Police identified him as the head of an organized crime organization linked to Israel's Caucasus community, which has been involved in a number of bitter gang disputes.
Yushvaev had previously survived an assassination attempt himself.
Around a decade ago, he was shot in Hadera, north of Caesarea, but recovered and subsequently strengthened his position within the criminal underworld.
Police later accused him of involvement in attacks targeting the home of a Hadera businessman, during which a civilian was injured last June. However, he was released without charge.
His death comes only six months after he was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv after returning from Moscow.
According to reports, intelligence officials suspected he had traveled back to Israel intending to target members of a rival gang. He was eventually released because of insufficient evidence.
Yushvaev had also been indicted in 2021 after allegedly threatening to kill a businessman over an unpaid debt of $1.1 million (£800,000).
The crime boss was reportedly known for demanding 'complete loyalty' from members of his organization.
He also avoided speaking on the phone whenever possible in an apparent attempt to prevent police from intercepting his conversations.
One police source previously described him as 'hard to convict' because of his precautions.
Yushvaev's assassination comes amid growing concern over organized crime and gang violence across Israel.
Rivalries between criminal organizations have increasingly spilled into public spaces, with reports claiming there were 13 attacks within just a few days.
Several branches of the Japanika sushi restaurant chain have also been targeted in grenade attacks, shootings and arson.
Police have linked some of the violence to clashes involving the Mosli Jewish crime family and the Jarushi Arab crime family.
The number of murders in Israel has also reportedly risen sharply, with 309 killings recorded last year - more than double the 148 recorded just three years prior, representing a 109 per cent increase.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has faced criticism over his handling of the escalating violence, but has rejected claims that the government has treated organized crime as primarily an internal Arab issue.
