Russian national suspected of killing Ukrainian soldiers in Germany was drunk – Spiegel

German news magazine Spiegel has reported that a Russian citizen, 57, suspected of killing Ukrainian soldiers in the German city of Murnau on 27 April, could have been drunk. Meanwhile, the motive for the murder has not yet been established.

As reported by Spiegel, the crime took place on the premises of a shopping centre in Murnau "where people meet and drink beer", German police explained.

Police detained the suspect, a 57-year-old Russian citizen, in his flat. He surrendered without resistance. The Russian was drunk and confessed to the crime. The man said he had quarrelled with the Ukrainian men.

There is no information yet on whether alcohol was found in the blood of the Ukrainians.

The police believe that the men may have known each other. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told Bavarian public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk that some witnesses had seen the men together before.

Herrmann noted that "there are no convincing signs" that "this was, so to speak, a reflection of the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine". Instead, Herrmann said, there are indications that "all the parties (to the dispute) had much alcohol to drink".

The report of two men critically injured in Murnau was received at around 17:20 on Saturday (27 April). By the time paramedics arrived, one man had died. The second man, who also had severe injuries, passed away in hospital shortly afterwards.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry reported that two Ukrainians killed in Germany were soldiers undergoing treatment in Bavaria after being injured in the combat zone.

A 57-year-old Russian man suspected of the murder was arrested in the city of Murnau in Germany.