A former convict who fought in Vladimir Putin's war went on to kill six people with an accomplice after being freed from prison, police in Russia claim.
Five men and one woman were found dead with stab and serious burn wounds in two separate houses blitzed by fire in a village in northern Russian region, Karelia.
Igor Sofonov had been recruited to serve in Putin's war in Ukraine.
His alleged accomplice was named as Maxim Bochkarev, who had also served jail time for serious crimes
Igor Sofonov had been recruited to serve in Putin's war in Ukraine
Reuters
The Russian Investigative Committee said both men have been detained initially for two months on suspicion of murder.
Bochkarev and Sofonov allegedly have previous convictions for murder, rape, robbery, and drugs.
People in Russia have raised concerns over former convict fighters in the war being rewarded by Putin for fighting then allowed home after serving at the frontline.
It is suspected that the two houses were set on fire to hide the massacre.
The victims in one house have been named as Konstantin Lonin, 42, his brother Dmitry, 47, and Vladimir Sergeenko, 76.
In the same house was a woman named only as Svetlana, 38.
The bodies of Vladimir Tereshchenko, 70, and his son Artyom, 39, were also found in another house.
After intruders entered the home, Artyom's children jumped from windows and went to raise the alarm with their grandfather in a neighbouring house.
It is unknown if Sofonov was serving for the mercenary army Wagner Group
Reuters
The children survived but their grandfather was killed along with his son when he later came to the scene.
"According to the preliminary version, the cause of the incident was a long-standing conflict on domestic grounds," reported Karelia News.
Both suspects were said to be in a state of "extreme intoxication" when they were detained, according to reports.
