Family of nine massacred by “Russian sniper” at birthday party

A birthday party turned into a bloodbath after nine Ukrainians were shot dead ‘by Russian forces’.

The group of family and friends were killed when soldiers reportedly demanded to take over their home in Volnovakha, a city in Russian-occupied Ukraine.

The dead also included Natalya Kapkanets, 29, and her husband Andrey, as well as their two children Nastya, reportedly ten, and Nikita, four.

According to Baza, Edward Kapkanets (53), his wife Tatyana (51), his son Alexander (25), his wife Ekaterina and her brother Dmitry Khotinsky (20) also died.

Andrei Kapkanets was reportedly in conflict with Chechen forces within Putin’s army.

The Chechens want to use the family home in Volnovacha, which has been occupied by Russia since March last year.

Gruesome photos showed the group lying dead in bed and hugging each other.

The adviser to Mariupol Mayor Pyotr Andrushchenko said the killers likely used thermal imaging cameras based on the wounds, the accuracy of the shots and the fact that the lights in the house were turned off.

Several theories have emerged – one of which is that a single Russian soldier killed all nine people during the rampage and that commanders initially tried to cover up the massacre.

The Ukrainian parliament’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, said: “There is no doubt that the bloodstained hands of the Russians are involved.”

“Just as traces of Russian torture were found in Bukha, Irpin, Izjum and other Ukrainian cities where the ‘liberators’ were present.”

A local source claimed that a Russian soldier filed a complaint against Andrei and killed all nine victims while the family gathered to celebrate a relative’s birthday.

The family friend told ASTRA: “Elders immediately arrived on the scene and tried to cover it all up, the neighbors were asked to keep quiet.”

Others suspected that more than one Russian soldier in uniform was involved.

A distant relative said, “Soldiers riding bicycles killed them and so on.” [victims] were in bed, so it happened while they were sleeping.

The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal investigation into the massacre.

The commission said: “The investigating authorities … are investigating the circumstances of the murder of nine residents of the city of Volnovakha, including two children, whose bodies with gunshot wounds were found in a private residential building.”

“The people involved in committing this crime will be identified.”

Petro Andrushchenko, adviser to the Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol, said this was “the worst crime the Russians have committed since the beginning of their occupation and a crime they are no longer trying to hide.”

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