Anatoly Onoprienko

Anatoly Onoprienko Full Name: Anatoly Yuryovych Onoprienko Alias: The Beast Of Ukraine The Terminator Citizen O Origin: Ukraine Occupation: Serial Killer Hobby: Killing people Goals: Get away with his crimes (failed) Escape from prison (failed) Crimes: Murder, burglary, arson, mutilation Type of Villain: Mass Murderer

"Death for me is nothing. Naturally, I would prefer the death penalty. I have absolutely no interest in relations with people. If I am ever let out, I will start killing again, but this time, it will be worse, ten times worse. Seize this chance, because I am groomed to serve Satan."

—Anatoly Onoprienko

Anatoly Yuryovych Onoprienko (July 25, 1959 – August 27, 2013) was a Ukrainian serial mass murderer. He was also known by the nicknames The Beast of Ukraine, The Terminator, and Citizen O. After police arrested the 36-year-old former forestry student on April 16, 1996, Onoprienko confessed to killing 52 people.

Biography

Born in the village of Lasky in Zhytomyr Oblast, Onoprienko was the younger of two sons; his brother, Valentin, was thirteen years older. His father, Yuri Onoprienko, was decorated for bravery during World War II. When Anatoly was four years old, his mother died. He was cared for by his grandparents and aunt for a time before being handed over to an orphanage in the village of Privitnoe. According to Onoprienko, he resented the fact that he had been given away by his father, while his brother continued to stay under his care. In one interview, Onoprienko later alleged that it was this that predetermined his destiny, and remarked that seventy percent of those brought up in orphanages end up in prison as adults.

When finally arrested by police, Onoprienko was found to be in possession of a total of 122 items, including a sawed-off TOZ-34 shotgun, a number of other weapons which matched those used in several of the killings, and a number of items which had been removed from victims. While in custody, he eventually confessed to eight killings between 1989 and 1995. At first, he denied other charges, but ultimately confessed to the killing of 52 victims over a six-year period. While in custody, he claimed that he killed in response to commands he was given by inner voice.

Onoprienko escaped the death penalty and was sentenced to life imprisonment; in 1995 Ukraine had entered the Council of Europe and thus (at the time) it undertook to abolish the death penalty. He died of heart failure in the prison of Zhytomyr on August 27, 2013 at the age of 54.