The Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, in close cooperation with Austrian counterparts and supported by Europol, have identified and arrested two Ukrainians suspected of committing a serious crime in Austria. The suspects have been notified of their charges.
A report concerning the disappearance of a Ukrainian citizen was filed with the police in Kharkiv on November 26, 2025. A criminal case was opened in connection with the disappearance (Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – intentional murder marked as 'missing'). Subsequently, investigators received information from their Austrian counterparts about the discovery of a burned vehicle in Vienna, where a body of an unidentified person was found. Experts confirmed that the body belonged to the missing 21-year-old Ukrainian citizen.
It has been preliminarily established that the suspects inflicted bodily harm on a Kharkiv resident and, while threatening him, forced him to provide access to his cryptocurrency wallet. They then placed the victim in the trunk of their Mercedes-Benz and set it on fire.
Through international cooperation, Austrian law enforcement provided information about the two Ukrainian citizens suspected of the crime via the Liaison Officers' Bureau in Ukraine. Both individuals were arrested and a 'Red Notice' was issued by Interpol.
It is known that both accomplices carefully prepared for the crime - they selected a location and purchased gasoline in cash beforehand. After committing the murder, they crossed the state border into Ukraine on November 26, according to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. As a result of operational measures, the National Police located both citizens and arrested them in Odesa.
During searches conducted by investigators within the criminal proceedings, items with evidential value were seized from the hotel room where they stayed, as well as from an apartment and vehicle: foreign and national currency, clothing, phones, etc. All items have been sent for expert analysis.
On December 16, the crime was reclassified by Ukrainian investigators under part 2 of Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The suspects have been notified of their charges. On December 18, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv chose a preventive measure of detention for both suspects.
The National Police of Ukraine continues to work closely with Austrian law enforcement to ensure justice is served.