The Brutal Balashikha Ripper Case: Sergei Vasilyevich Ryakhovsky “The Hippopotamus" Serial Killer

Fuck, this one is a doozy. Unlike, the mom story from the other day, this one is NOT for the faint of heart. Also, why in the hell is every Russian killer so damn brutal? It's like they're competing in a horrifying contest of who can commit the most gruesome acts— sawing off their faces, microwaving brains, or just being livestream dicks.

I am covering this case in two parts, because Jen told me my mental health is important, and not to mix too much of my war-baby drama (not exact words, but I’m a Madonna with PTSD) with murder and rape.

So buckle it up bitches because this one is intense.

Sergei Vasilyevich Ryakhovsky, known as "The Balashikha Ripper" or "The Hippopotamus," was a notorious Russian serial killer whose crimes shocked the nation. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches, his imposing figure was only matched by the severity of his crimes. Ryakhovsky was sentenced to death for the murder of 19 individuals, a sentence that came after a chilling statement in court where he ominously declared, "I will be back”.. okay Arnold.

Ski pole up the anus

Vladimir Zaitsev, a 16-year-old teenager, tragically became one of Sergei Ryakhovsky's victims on January 2, 1989. This incident marked Ryakhovsky's third murder, which occurred near a bus stop. The details surrounding the attack on Zaitsev are particularly gruesome and highlight the brutal nature of Ryakhovsky's crimes.

On that fateful day, Zaitsev encountered Ryakhovsky while skiing. The interaction quickly turned violent when Ryakhovsky strangled Zaitsev. Following the strangulation, Ryakhovsky committed a sexual act with Zaitsev's corpse, further demonstrating his necrophilic tendencies. The brutality continued as Ryakhovsky used a ski pole to impale Zaitsev through the anus, a horrifying detail that underscores the extreme violence of the attack.

After the murder, Ryakhovsky took Zaitsev's skis and discarded them at distances of 500 and 800 meters from the crime scene. This act of disposing of the skis away from the body suggests a rudimentary attempt to cover his tracks, although it ultimately did little to prevent his later capture.

The murder of Vladimir Zaitsev is a stark example of the cruelty and depravity of Sergei Ryakhovsky's actions during his spree of violence that terrorized the Moscow area from 1988 to 1993. This case, like many others attributed to Ryakhovsky, left a lasting impact on the community and remains a chilling reminder of the capabilities of such a ruthless killer.

First blood: Cleansing the world

Anatoly Vilkin was one of the early victims of Sergei Ryakhovsky, a notorious Russian serial killer known as "The Balashikha Ripper" or "The Hippopotamus." The murder of Vilkin occurred on June 19, 1988, marking one of the first in Ryakhovsky's brutal series of killings that terrorized the Moscow area from 1988 to 1993.

Vilkin, a homosexual man, encountered Ryakhovsky a few days before his murder. The two met and Ryakhovsky agreed to perform sexual acts with Vilkin for money, leading them into a secluded area in the woods. This encounter was tragically a setup by Ryakhovsky, who had ulterior motives far beyond the agreed transaction.

Once they were isolated, the situation escalated to violence. Ryakhovsky attacked Vilkin, striking him multiple times with a screwdriver, a method of killing that Ryakhovsky would become infamously known for. The attack was not only lethal but also marked by a particular cruelty that would become a horrifying signature of Ryakhovsky's subsequent murders.

The murder of Anatoly Vilkin is a stark example of the dangers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in environments where their safety and rights are not adequately protected. Vilkin's tragic end underlines the brutality of Ryakhovsky's actions and the vulnerability of minority groups during that era in Russia.

Citations:
[1] https://killer.cloud/serial-killers/show/38/sergei-ryakhovsky
[2] https://murderpedia.org/male.R/r/ryakhovsky-sergei-photos-2.htm
[3] https://www.reddit.com/r/serialkillers/comments/t813sh/balashikha_ripper18_murders/
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Ryakhovsky
[5] https://emadion.it/en/homicides/serial-killers/serial-killer-men/sergei-ryakhovsky-the-hippopotamus/
[6] https://www.themoscowtimes.com/archive/a-killers-confidante-in-a-murderous-town
[7] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ%3AL%3A2012%3A285%3A0001%3A0052%3AEN%3APDF
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prison_deaths
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_serial_killers_by_number_of_victims
[10] https://allthatsinteresting.com/famous-serial-killers
[11] https://st.cosmoscow.com/media/press/Сosmoscow_2022_catalogue.pdf
[12] https://www.unclesemite.com/shitlerslist/shitlist15.html
[13] https://www.serialkillercalendar.com/Wolfgang SCHMIDT.php
[14] https://icebergcharts.com/i/Serial_and_Spree_Killers_Iceberg
[15] https://studylib.es/doc/8799350/cobblestone-donors
[16] https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Most-Moscow-Stories-Russias/dp/1514670097
[17] https://www.serialkillercalendar.com/Sergei RYAKHOVSKY.php
[18] http://www.murderpedia.org/male.R/r/ryakhovsky-sergei-photos-1.htm
[19] https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-most-moscow-jon-lawson/1122218281