A Russian man has been forced to undergo emergency surgery to remove a testicle after being kneed in the groin by his ex-wife.

Rimma Gayazova, 27, a former boxer, attacked her ex-husband in the Russian city of Kaliningrad as they rowed in an elevator over a weekend visit with their son.

Vyacheslav Povetyev, 29, has complained to police that he is 'half-castrated' and 'infertile' after suffering a scrotal rupture. Surgeons had to remove the damaged testicle, said Kaliningrad police.

Vyacheslav Povetyev (right) has had emergency surgery to remove a testicle after being kneed in the groin by his ex-wife, Vyacheslav Povetyev (left), during an argument in Russia

Rimma Gayazova (left), 27, a former schoolgirl boxer, attacked her ex-husband Vyacheslav Povetyev (right) in the Russian city of Kaliningrad as they rowed in an elevator over a weekend visit with their son

Rimma Gayazova (pictured) claimed she was trying to defend herself when she kneed her ex-husband in the groin

The woman claims her ex-husband was the first to attack, and says he grabbed her by the neck and tried to take the child from her. To defend herself she kneed him in the groin, she claimed.

However, her ex is not under criminal investigation, it is understood.

Gayazova is facing a criminal investigation for 'the intentional infliction of moderate bodily harm' which carries a punishment of up to three years in jail.

'The victim went to hospital with the injury, where doctors diagnosed a scrotal rupture, considered to be a moderate bodily injury,' said a police statement.

Ms Gayazova claims her ex-husband was the first to attack, grabbed her by the neck and sought to take the child from her. To defend herself she kneed him in the groin, she claimed

Vyacheslav Povetyev, 29, has complained to police that he is 'half-castrated' and 'infertile' after suffering a scrotal rupture. Surgeons had to remove the damaged testicle, said Kaliningrad police

Gayazova (left) is facing a criminal investigation for 'the intentional infliction of moderate bodily harm' which carries a punishment of up to three years in jail. Reports say that her ex-husband (right) complained to police that he had 'became infertile'

'Investigators from the police department for the Leningradsky district initiated a criminal case under article 112 of the (Russian) Criminal Code - 'Intentional infliction of moderate bodily harm'.

'It is known that as a teenager the woman was engaged in boxing.'

Reports say that the ex-husband complained to police that he had 'became infertile and suffered psychological harm' after the incident which left him 'half castrated'.