A 36-year-old Russian soldier has been arrested in Kharkiv following the deaths of five Ukrainian servicemen and a local fisherman.

A 36-year-old Russian citizen has been detained in Kharkiv in connection with the killing of five Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers on October 13. Authorities report that the suspect, who allegedly wore civilian clothing to avoid detection, is also accused of murdering a civilian fisherman in the Tsyrkuny community prior to the attack on the soldiers.

Details of the Attacks

According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the suspect was allegedly part of a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group. Investigators state that the man first encountered a fisherman near a body of water in the Tsyrkuny community, where he fatally shot the civilian out of fear of being exposed. Following this, he reportedly traveled to the village of Momotove, entered a private residence where Ukrainian military personnel were stationed, and opened fire with an automatic weapon, killing five members of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade.

Investigation and Arrest

The suspect, identified as a native of St. Petersburg who served in the 2nd Battalion of the 1009th Motorized Rifle Regiment, was apprehended in a district of Kharkiv on the evening of October 14. While the motive for the attack on the soldiers remains under investigation, Ukrainian authorities have been exploring several scenarios, including the possibility that the perpetrator was operating as part of a sabotage unit. The 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade confirmed the victims were its personnel and stated the killings were likely committed by Russian nationals.