Deserter kills and dismembers three women in Nizhny Novgorod region

On 5 October 2026, Meduza, citing RBC, reported that a local resident of Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region who had previously deserted from a military unit killed three women.

According to the regional Investigative Committee, on 3 October in the settlement of Neklyudovo the man struck his partner several times on the head with a crowbar during a conflict, and she died. He then went to Nizhny Novgorod and told the dead woman’s mother and daughter what had happened. When they planned to go to the police, he killed them as well.

He then dismembered the bodies, put the remains in bags and rented a Gazelle truck to take them into the forest. On the way, traffic police stopped the vehicle for a check. Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk said suitcases, backpacks, bags and other containers were found in the cargo area; the driver said they were a passenger’s personal belongings. That man grew nervous, suddenly ran from officers and was detained.

According to the Telegram channel “112”, cited by Meduza, the victims were 47, 77 and 18 years old. The Investigative Committee and the Interior Ministry did not say under what circumstances the man deserted or whether he had taken part in combat in Ukraine.