Russian charged with drunken murder of injured Ukrainians in Germany

Munich prosecutors on Wednesday laid murder charges against a 57-year-old Russian who has lived in Germany for 20 years for the killing of two Ukrainian soldiers undergoing medical treatment for their injuries, reported dpa.

The accused, who is reported to have come to the attention of police on a number of past occasions, is alleged to have stabbed the Ukrainians, aged 23 and 36, to death near a shopping centre in the southern Bavarian town of Murnau in April this year.

According to the prosecution, the fatal assault took place following a drunken argument between the men, who were acquainted, about the situation in Ukraine.

"As proponent of excessive Russian nationalism, he backs the Russian invasion of Ukraine without reserve," the state prosecutor said in laying the murder charge.

The accused is alleged to have gone to fetch a knife from his home nearby, deliberately stabbing his first victim in the throat before attacking the second man.

He is alleged to have acted out of malice, taking the two Ukrainians by surprise.

The Munich court has still to take a final decision on whether to proceed to trial. The Russian accused is being held in custody in Stadelheim prison in the Bavarian capital.

At a memorial service for the two Ukrainians earlier this year, Murnau Mayor Ralf Beuting expressed outrage. "The aim was for them to regain their health here and return home. What happened is inconceivable to us," he said.