Soldiers' harrowing crime spree shocks Ukrainian villages
6:17 AM EDT, April 28, 2024
Soldiers from unit number 33702 of the Russian Ministry of Defense, 33-year-old Alexander Osipov and 37-year-old Alexander Kaygorodtsev embarked on a harrowing spree from April 23 to April 24. They roamed between two neighbouring villages, Abrikosovka and Podo-Kalinovka, in a grim quest for alcohol. In instances where they were denied, they resorted to killing the residents and setting their houses ablaze.
The investigative channel Wczk-OGPU, with sources close to Russian special services, has shed light on the grim details. Reportedly, about five civilians from the Kherson region in Ukraine fell victim to these heinous acts.
Murder and arson
One tragic case involved 64-year-old Valentina Starchenko, who was mercilessly shot in the back near her home's fence by the assailants. Subsequently, they lobbed a grenade into her house on Oktiabrskaya Street in Podo-Kalinovka, setting the dwelling ablaze.
A similar grim fate was met by 32-year-old Sergey Shuvayev and his friend, a serviceman named Maxim, residents of the same village. Their home on Lenin Street was utterly destroyed, with their bodies discovered on the village's outskirts. According to Wczk-OGPU, both men were shot, and their bodies were then burned.
Additionally, two more residents suffered a particularly savage end. A 54-year-old village administration head and his 39-year-old partner were shot and brutally dismembered, with their skulls cracked open. Post-mortem, their bodies were burned.
Investigation underway
At each crime scene, the culprits left behind evidence, including cartridge cases, bullets, and grenade pins. A UAZ "Patriot" pickup truck, used by Osipov and Kaygorodov, was discovered near Podo-Kalinovka's village administration building. Within the vehicle, authorities found an AK-12 assault rifle, grenades, and a bulletproof vest.
The 126th Military Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has initiated an investigation into these atrocities. It is noteworthy that Russian military personnel have faced penalties for such crimes, including murder, in the past.
