According to reports, Russian authorities have apprehended two soldiers who went on a horrifying killing spree in the Moscow-occupied part of Kherson. The soldiers, identified as Alexander Kaygorodtsev, 36, and Alexander Osipov, 34, both members of the 144th Guards Motor Rifle Division, were detained on April 24th on suspicion of murder.

The soldiers confessed to the heinous crimes, admitting to killing at least five people and disclosing that they had also hidden the bodies of additional victims, including the head of the village of Abrikosovka where the killings took place. The motive behind the killings remains puzzling for investigators, as some of their victims included other Russian servicemen.

The duo gruesomely murdered their victims, resorting to burning their houses if they were denied alcohol. The victims ranged from a 65-year-old individual to a woman who was shot in the stomach before her house was set ablaze. Shockingly, some of the victims were further "disfigured," with the culprits breaking open their skulls.

In an attempt to conceal their crimes, Kaygorodtsev and Osipov used grenades and fire to destroy the bodies and crime scenes. Despite reports, no charges have been officially opened against the soldiers. However, it is stated that the pair will face an investigation by the 126th Military Investigation Department of the Russian Investigative Committee.

Kaygorodtsev, who had a prior criminal record for murder and participation in drug trafficking, had previously served a five-year sentence with an additional six-month suspended sentence. If convicted for the recent murders, he could face life imprisonment.

These killings add to the ongoing violence and turmoil within the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. Recent reports have shed light on crimes committed against Ukrainian residents in these areas, including alleged attacks targeting the LGBTQ+ community in Kherson.

Human rights NGO watchdog Projector, in collaboration with OutRight International, released a report documenting targeted attacks on LGBTQ+ residents in the city between March and September 2023. The report claimed that some Russian forces deliberately targeted queer individuals during this period.

Additionally, in February, the body of a Ukrainian Orthodox priest named Father Stepan was discovered in the streets of Kalanchak, also in the Kherson region. The priest had been detained by Russian forces two days prior, and according to Forum 18, a Norwegian news agency, the local bishop alleged that the troops had tortured him to death.

The situation in the Russian-occupied zones of Ukraine remains tense, with a growing concern over the safety of the local population, particularly vulnerable groups such as the LGBTQ+ community. The investigation into these recent killings will be closely followed as authorities aim to ensure justice is served for the victims and their families.