ZHYTOMYR — 1989 · Serial Murder
The Onoprienko Serial Killings
Between 1989 and 1996, a series of killings in Ukraine's Zhytomyr, Kyiv and other regions targeted families, mostly in rural homes. The attacks, which intensified in the winter of 1995–1996, caused widespread fear and triggered one of the largest manhunts in the country's history. The perpetrator was arrested on 16 April 1996 and confessed to 52 murders. Tried in Zhytomyr, he was sentenced to death in 1999; when Ukraine abolished capital punishment, the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. He died in Zhytomyr prison on 27 August 2013. The case prompted debate on police coordination and the mental health system in post-Soviet Ukraine.
- Date
- 1989
- Place
- Zhytomyr and Kyiv regions, Ukraine, Zhytomyr, UA
- Category
- Serial Murder
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- 50.2500, 28.6600 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 1989The first killings took place.
- Winter 1995–1996The attacks intensified; a large manhunt began.
- 16 April 1996The perpetrator was arrested.
- 1999He was sentenced to death in Zhytomyr; the sentence was later commuted to life.
- 27 August 2013He died in prison.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Anatoly Onoprienko en.wikipedia.org ↗
- BBC News — The lives changed by Onoprienko news.bbc.co.uk ↗
- Wikipedia
- BBC News
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.