In a dramatic turn of events, Russian police have apprehended a suspect believed to be responsible for the murder of a submarine commander. The arrest took place in Tuapse, located in the southern region of Krasnodar, and was captured on camera, showcasing the intense nature of the operation.
In the video footage, armed officers can be seen storming a house, forcefully entering the premises and breaking windows in their pursuit of Sergei Denisenko, the suspect in question. Denisenko, a 64-year-old individual, was found cowering on the kitchen floor in his underwear as law enforcement officers pointed their firearms towards him.
The arrest is connected to the killing of Stanislav Rzhitsky, a former Naval officer, which occurred on Monday morning in the city of Krasnodar. Rzhitsky, 42 years old at the time of his death, was allegedly gunned down by Denisenko. Various Russian media outlets have speculated that Denisenko’s profile on the fitness app Strava may have played a role in tracking him down.
In a concerning development, Denisenko’s personal details, including his address and picture, were featured on the Ukrainian website Myrotvorets (Peacemaker). The website serves as an unofficial database listing individuals considered to be enemies of Ukraine. Recently, Denisenko’s photograph on the site had the word ‘Liquidated’ superimposed in red letters, raising further questions about the circumstances surrounding the case.
Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency has published details of the incident on its website, although it neither claimed responsibility nor disclosed how it obtained the information. According to their report, Rzhitsky was shot seven times with a Makarov pistol while jogging in the 30th Anniversary of Victory park in Krasnodar around 6 am. Sadly, Rzhitsky succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene. The park’s emptiness due to heavy rain meant that no witnesses were present to provide further information or identify the assailant.
Major-General Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of Ukraine’s military intelligence, released a statement refuting claims that his agents were responsible for the killing. Instead, he pointed to internal anti-war activists within Russia as potential culprits. Budanov emphasized that the incident was a reflection of growing internal dissent against the war in Ukraine within Russia itself.
Russia’s state Investigative Committee has confirmed the arrest of a suspect in his early 60s. The individual was found in possession of a pistol, a silencer, and money. The committee released the video footage of the arrest as evidence. Sergei Denisenko, the apprehended suspect, is currently being interrogated as a “suspect” in connection with the case.