On the night of Friday, October 4, a local entrepreneur, Ruslan Bilous, and his wife, Galina Bilous, were discovered dead in the village of Lopatyn, located in the Lviv region. The perpetrator fled the scene in the car belonging to the slain couple.
The Lviv regional police reported that the 51-year-old businessman was fatally shot on the night of October 4 within the premises of his own residence. In the same location, the police found the body of his 48-year-old wife, who had also succumbed to her injuries, with severe head trauma. Local sources, citing information from the police, stated that the woman’s injuries were so severe that she was unrecognizable.
According to local residents, the murder occurred in the village of Lopatyn, as reported by ZAXID.NET. The bodies of Ruslan Bilous and his wife, Halyna, were discovered by their son-in-law in a private wooden house near the forest massif in Lopatyna, at approximately 05:00 in the morning.
In an effort to apprehend the killer, the police launched the “Interception” plan. Preliminary investigations suggest that the murder was committed using a hunting rifle. Busk Online reported that the crime may have been perpetrated by a man wearing camouflage clothing, who fled the scene in a black SsangYong Rexton car. The police noted that the killer escaped in a vehicle belonging to the murdered businessman.
On the evening of October 4, several Lviv Telegram channels reported that the suspect in the murder had been identified. The police are currently searching for a 36-year-old man, who, like the victim, resides in the territory of the former Radekhiv district.
According to the service YouControl, Ruslan Bilous was involved in various business ventures, including freight transportation, production of wooden building structures, and trade. He was also the owner of local lakes and a co-founder of the Lopatynska Varta public order protection organization.
The police are currently investigating two criminal proceedings – one for the intentional murder of two individuals and another for the illegal possession of a vehicle. The perpetrator faces life imprisonment if convicted.
This incident bears a resemblance to a similar crime that occurred on September 18, in which a man shot a car driver at a gas station in Kyiv and then fled the scene in the victim’s car.
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Tragic Double Homicide in Lopatyn: A Dark Chapter in Village’s History
As a seasoned blogger and news writer, I have come across numerous tragic stories that leave one questioning the fabric of society. The recent double homicide in the village of Lopatyn, located in the Lviv region, is yet another heart-wrenching example of senseless violence. The victims, local entrepreneur Ruslan Bilous, 51, and his wife Galina Bilous, 48, met a brutal end, leaving behind a family and community in shock.
The police investigation has uncovered some disturbing details, including the use of extreme violence in the crime. According to reports, Ruslan Bilous was fatally shot, while Galina Bilous suffered severe head trauma, rendering her unrecognizable [[1]]. The fact that the perpetrator had the audacity to use the victim’s own car to flee the scene is a chilling reminder of the callous nature of the crime.
While the police have launched the “Interception” plan to apprehend the killer, the community is left to grapple with the aftermath of this heinous act. Lopatyn is not an unfamiliar name when it comes to tragic events; the village has witnessed its share of pain and suffering, particularly during World War II. In 1942, about 450 Jews remained in Lopatyn, only to be brutally deported to the Sokal’ ghetto and later to the Belzec death camp [[1]]. The history of Lopatyn is marred by events that highlight the darker aspects of human nature.
The tragedy also reminds us of the importance of community cohesion and the need to stand together against acts of violence. Dov Lopatyn, a Judenrat leader in Łachwa, Poland (now Lakhva, Belarus), is an example of courage in the face of adversity [[3]]. His story serves as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit, and the need to continue fighting for justice and peace.
the double homicide in Lopatyn is a somber reminder of the darker aspects of human nature. As we reflect on this tragic event, we must also acknowledge the historical significance of the village and its complex past. It is our hope that the perpetrator will be brought to justice and that the community will come together to heal and rebuild.
References:
[1] Lopatyn Jewish Cemetery – ESJF surveys
[2] Łachwa Ghetto
[3] Dov Lopatyn | Military Wiki – Fandom
