Anatoli Onoprienko

When police arrested 37-year-old former forrestry student, Anatoly Onoprienko on April 16, 1996, they finally ended the Ukraine’s worst killing spree. Anatoly, a native of Zhitomir, was carrying a hunting rifle that matched the murder weapon in several of the killings and had jewelry and video equipment, which may belong to some of his victims. While in custody he immediately confessed to eight killings between 1989 to 1995. At first he denied other charges, but soon admitted to being the maniac dubbed „The Terminator“ that tallied up to 52 victims in a six-year killing spree.

A manhunt was launched across Ukraine in March, 1996, after eight families were brutally murdered in their homes. Most of the victims were in remote villages in the Lvov region near the border with Poland. There were so many killings in one village that army troops were sent to patrol streets.
The killings followed a set pattern. „The Terminator“ chose isolated houses, shot everyone inside including children, and torched the place. He would also kill whatever witness crossed his path during his murderous rampages. The first to die were a family of four in Bratkovichi. Another family of five and two witnesses were killed not long after in the same village. When police imposed a security cordon around Bratkovichi, „The Terminator“ moved to other villages where he continued his serial slaughter Once in custody, the lethal ex-forrestry student conviniently claimed that his killing spree was commanded by „inner voices“ he kept hearing.