Sergey Ryakhovsky: The Giant Balashikha Ripper | Crime Documentary

Between 1988 and 1993, a 306-pound electrician terrorized the outskirts of Moscow, claiming at least 19 lives. Known as "The Moscow Hippo" and "The Balashikha Ripper," Sergey Ryakhovsky hunted society's outcasts—pedophiles, homeless people, and members of the gay community—believing he was "cleaning" the streets.

But beneath his self-righteous claims lay a brutal reality: savage murders involving axes, knives, and hangman's nooses. This giant of a man, who read science fiction authors like Ray Bradbury and kept detailed diaries decorated with coffins, terrorized Moscow's parks and forests for five years before his capture.

His childhood was marked by severe abuse and a rape that would shape his psyche forever. Released from prison for sexual assault in 1988, Ryakhovsky began his killing spree just weeks later. His first victim was a pedophile who had molested children—but the violence quickly escalated beyond his stated targets.

From the forests of Bitsa Park to the outskirts of Podolsk, Ryakhovsky left a trail of bodies. He lured victims with promises of alcohol, sex, or companionship, then ambushed them with nooses hanging from trees or attacked them with axes and knives. Some victims were strangled. Others were beaten to death.

The hunt for the killer intensified throughout 1992 and 1993 as police discovered more bodies. Finally, in May 1993, Ryakhovsky's reign of terror ended in the most ironic way possible—he became caught in his own noose trap during a failed ambush, allowing police to capture him alive.

This documentary tells the complete story of one of Russia's most brutal serial killers, from his damaged childhood to his life sentence in a Mordovian prison colony, where he died in 2007 at age 45.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This documentary contains descriptions of violent crimes, sexual assault, and murder. Viewer discretion is advised.

📚 This documentary is based on archival police records, court documents, Russian news reports from the 1990s, and investigative journalism. All facts have been verified against multiple sources.
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