Family of 8, including 3 children, murdered in Russian-annexed Donetsk region

Russian military investigators opened a criminal case in connection with the violent murder of a family of eight in Makiivka, a city in the Russian-annexed Donetsk region of Ukraine. Three of the victims were children, the youngest being a one-year-old toddler, as reported by local authorities.

The Interior Ministry of the annexed “DNR” claims that the three suspects had stolen the murdered family’s Skoda car. All three alleged murderers were Makiivka residents, and had prior convictions. When arrested, they claimed to have killed the victims for the sake of taking their car and valuables. RIA Novosti spoke with one of the victims’ father. He pointed out that his daughter’s gold necklace had not been taken, questioning the killers’ stated motives.

The Russian Investigative Committee has reported that four people were arrested following the murder. During the search of the apartment where they were found, the police seized an AK-74 machine gun, three rounds of ammunition, and two grenades.

The suspects may be facing life sentences if convicted.