Media about the Ministry of Internal Affairs: how the investigator opened the case of the murder in Soledar
Despite wartime, the number of violent crimes in Ukraine does not decrease. One such case occurred in the city of Soledar, Donetsk region. It was then that Russian troops were already on the approaches to the city. During this period, the investigating police Maxim Mashkin was called to find out the circumstances of the murder of two people. The police investigation into this case was published by The Wall Street Journal.
Then in Soledar in one of the basements the bodies of the Borschevskys were discovered. The killers were not Russians. Investigator Maxim Mashkin quickly realized that they were locals: Anatoly Ponomarenko and Viktor Lyaskov.
This happened on the evening of November 26, 2022. The war created ideal conditions for murderers. Many of Soledar's inhabitants had already fled the Russian offensive, so the couple had few neighbors. The constant explosions meant that the screams or sound of grenades would not arouse the suspicion of locals.
Two locals drank alcoholic drinks that evening and “paid a visit” to the couple. Approaching the victims' home, one of the attackers struck the woman and forced the couple to descend into the basement. The attacker threw a grenade there. However, as a result of the explosion, the man and woman did not die. After that, the second attacker struck both of them one at a time with a knife in the neck. And after the murder, both went to Odessa in a stolen car. However, the attackers got to the checkpoint, where the corresponding license plates of the stolen car were noticed by the officer.
Searching the car, the police found a bag of clothes with traces of blood, which later turned out to be the blood of the victims. Law enforcement officers found the personal belongings of the spouses from the attackers. The motive for the murder, according to prosecutors, was the desire of the attackers to ensure a better life for themselves in safer regions of Ukraine. Their prey was about 70,000 hryvnias, a little more than 1800 dollars, as well as the couple's car. Despite all the suspects, they left a safe in the house, which kept a much larger amount of cash, as well as gold jewelry of the family.
Both men pleaded guilty to premeditated murder. The third - stated that he was an observer and did not know that the accomplices intended to kill the couple. When asked in court, all three declined to comment.
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
