In Russia, a former soldier who was recruited in prison and pardoned for his “services” on the front lines continued to kill after returning to his home country.
On Tuesday in Kemerovo Oblast, a 12-year-old girl left her home early in the morning and never returned, the investigation agency said. The next day the frightening discovery: her body was discovered – with clear signs of violence – in a well near an abandoned building. A 49-year-old was arrested a short time later.
It was Andrei Bykov, who had committed at least six crimes so far, including serious ones, reports local media Sibirski Express. In 2019, he was sentenced to 13.5 years in a penal colony for the murder of an elderly woman during an argument. According to the information, the lady insulted him and hit him with a plastic bucket. Bykov then allegedly strangled her with a cloth band and buried her body.
The authorities during the investigation:
Behind bars, he was recruited for deployment at the front and ended up in the ‘Storm Z’ unit, which consists largely of prisoners.
Prisoners of war in Ukraine
At the end of 2023, Bykov was taken prisoner of war in Ukraine. In December, a video featuring Bykov was published on the YouTube channel Ne shdi menja s Ukrainy (in German this roughly means “Don’t wait until I come back from Ukraine”, mind you) in which he stated that he was in favor of the penal colony that supported the fight leaves in the neighboring country.
What’s exciting is that he complains about conditions during the war and admits that he has thought about going into battle “against those Russians.” “They threw me as cannon fodder,” Bykov accuses his homeland. “What else can I say about that? Don’t get involved in something like that.” In any case, Bykov concluded that he would never do anything for Russia again.
Here is the original video:
At the end of January, Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners. The Telegram channel Storm Z then published a list of those who had returned from captivity. Bykov was also found there.
The 49-year-old returned to the Kemerovo region in February, reports Kremlin critical portal Ostoroshno, novosti.
Criminals are celebrated as ‘heroes’.
“It’s terrible that a prisoner has been released. A few years ago he literally murdered a local woman for no reason. Actually, he should have served another ten years in the penal colony. But suddenly he was a free man! What’s even more frightening is that now he will go back to prison, then return to the war and ultimately live on as a hero – just like many prisoners have already done,” an angry resident told the online portal Sibir Realii.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
