March 07, 2024

Former Prisoner, War Participant Commits Murder, Again


Former Prisoner, War Participant Commits Murder, Again
Members of the Wagner group training Belarusian troops.
  BelTA Agency, Wikimedia Commons

On the night of February 24 in the Yakut village of Kutana, an ex-convict, who fought in Ukraine and received a pardon for his participation in the war, killed a 34-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman. The latter had won the "Best Teacher of Russia" competition.

According to the daughter of the murdered teacher, the alleged perpetrator had been convicted three times previously, with his latest conviction in 2020 resulting in a nine-and-a-half-year prison sentence for a brutal murder. Despite being released in 2023, his family was not eager to see him return to his native village of Kutana.

The victim's daughter explained that the killer had been seen wandering the village drunkenly on February 23. Despite being reported to the authorities, he was not arrested but instead escorted outside the village. He later returned, engaged in a conflict with a 34-year-old resident, and ultimately killed him with a crowbar. He then avenged the teacher for reporting him to the police.

He left the woman with severe injuries before fatally striking her with an ax and setting fire to her home in an attempt to cover his tracks. He was later apprehended.

Residents of Kutana expressed concerns over the possibility of the perpetrator, if convicted, returning to the village and committing further crimes.

This incident is part of a concerning trend, as similar cases have emerged involving former prisoners who participated in the Russian war in Ukraine. In September, Oleg Grechko, previously incarcerated for murder, set his sister ablaze in Zavolzhye, near Nizhny Novgorod. Another instance occurred in Rostov-on-Don, where a former convict, previously convicted of murder, committed another homicide upon returning from the war.

The situation underscores broader societal issues, particularly in light of recent remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding veterans of the war. Putin announced a special training program, "A Time for Heroes," aimed at developing a new elite-level class in Russia. The program will be available for military personnel and veterans with higher education and management experience.

You Might Also Like

  • February 10, 2024

"I Breathed a Sigh of Relief"

The war has increased cases of domestic abuse, yet in one instance things went in an entirely different direction.
Two Years
  • February 22, 2024

Two Years

Putin has gotten nothing he wanted from his War on Ukraine.
$10,000 for a Fake Injury
  • December 05, 2023

$10,000 for a Fake Injury

Russian soldiers use bribes to buy vacations and the opportunity not to participate in assaults.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955