Russia’s Growing Culture of Everyday Violence

FROM WAR HEROES TO PUBLIC THREATS: THE VIOLENCE COMING HOME

In this episode of From Russia with Fear, we examine four disturbing cases that reveal the darker consequences of war, violence, and social breakdown in modern Russia. An 11-year-old girl narrowly escapes an attempted abduction and sexual assault by a former Wagner fighter. A decorated veteran is arrested after threatening to kill police officers and their families during a bizarre outburst in a Moscow bakery. A former vice-governor convicted of taking massive bribes dies on his first assault mission after trading prison time for military service. And in Ulan-Ude, a group of teenagers attack a man with stones and bricks after he refuses to give them cigarettes. These stories raise difficult questions about trauma, accountability, youth violence, and the growing number of former prisoners and combat veterans returning to civilian life. As the war continues, its consequences are increasingly being felt far from the battlefield.

The Missing Maniac: Killer Turned Soldier, Defense Corruption, and Violence at Home

What happened to Andrey Kiyko, the notorious "Sosnovsky Maniac"? Russian authorities recently announced a search for the convicted serial killer, but new reports suggest he may have been killed months ago while fighting in Ukraine after being released from prison through a military contract. In this episode of From Russia with Fear, we examine the strange disappearance of one of Russia's most infamous criminals, the arrest of a top executive at Russia's largest tank manufacturer over alleged defense-contract embezzlement, the kidnapping of an 11-year-old boy by a drunken couple, and a shocking attack on a 90-year-old woman by a first-grade student.

Released Serial Killer Missing, Woman Jailed Over Hookah Post, and a Drunken Ambulance Hijacking

In this episode of From Russia with Fear, we examine three stories that reveal the strange and troubling realities of modern Russia. A convicted serial killer known as the "Sosnovka Maniac" was released from prison to fight in Ukraine and has now disappeared after escaping from a military hospital. Meanwhile, a Moscow bar employee receives more than three years in prison over a social media post featuring a hookah styled as an Easter cake. And in Voronezh, a drunken argument ends with a burned car, a hijacked ambulance, and attacks on passersby using a fire extinguisher. From violent crime and wartime policies to free speech and public disorder, these stories raise serious questions about justice, accountability, and public safety in today's Russia.

Son Murders Father, Billions Seized From Ex-Defense Official & Muslim Scholars Arrested

An 18-year-old student in Lipetsk spends months planning the brutal murder of his own father with the help of his best friend. A former Russian deputy defense minister loses assets worth 5.5 billion rubles in one of the country’s biggest corruption scandals. And across Russia, Muslim scholars and religious leaders are arrested under terrorism charges tied to the Muslim Brotherhood. In this episode of From Russia with Fear, we examine shocking violence inside Russian families, corruption at the highest levels of power, and the growing crackdown on religious figures.

Acid, Bullets, and Fear: Violence Spreads Beyond Russia’s Frontline

In this episode of From Russia with Fear, we examine three shocking stories that reveal how violence is becoming part of everyday life in modern Russia. A former soldier returning from the war in Ukraine brutally attacks his ex-girlfriend with a knife, a signal pistol, and acid after months of stalking and threats. In Saint Petersburg, a Mariinsky Theatre performer shoots an 11-year-old boy for playing the saxophone outside his window. And in the Russian Far East, police officers mistakenly enter the wrong property and kill a family dog during a botched operation. These stories expose a country where aggression, impunity, and trauma are no longer confined to the battlefield — they are spreading into homes, streets, and neighborhoods across Russia.