In Domodedovo, authorities detained 22-year-old Vasily Rassokha on suspicion of killing the rector of the St. Nicholas church, the Wonderworker Sergei Lopukhov, according to a Telegram report. The report also notes that Rassokha had previously worked at a Sunday school and had met with the rector the day before the incident to discuss unrequited feelings for one of the students.
The Moscow region department of the TFR reported that on the morning of August 24, a fire was started in the Sunday school office. While the monastery abbot attempted to extinguish the blaze, the attacker struck him with a knife. Rescuers who arrived in response to the fire found the dead priest, with the assailant allegedly sitting on the stairs beside Lopukhov’s body.
According to Telegram channel Baza, the suspect Vasily Rassokha was expelled from school a year earlier. It is claimed that he visited the rector on August 23 and they spoke at length about the teacher’s feelings for a former student. The materials allege that he followed the rector and even bought a ring for the girl, but she rejected him. The abbot reportedly defended the student, and records indicate Rassokha was fired for harassing a pupil, leading the girl to flee in fear.
In the Podolsk diocese, socialbites.ca denied any involvement by the teacher in the murder of the rector. The denial stated that an official statement would be released by the Podolsk diocese press service to address the Internet rumor and clarify the situation, while the circumstances of the attack were described as under investigation. The relevant legal provisions referenced include Part 1 of Article 105 (Murder) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and Article 167.
assassin’s diary
The Telegram channel Watch Out for the News reported that the suspect, identified as Vasily R., kept a detailed diary in an Excel file. The document reportedly mapped out plans, love experiences, and random thoughts in a chaotic mix of sincere notes, irrelevant images, and phrases. The diary used different names for the beloved — Evdokia, Evdania, and Yana — while noting that she was a young person. In April, after a rejection by his lover, the man allegedly began to express murderous thoughts.
Crying after kitten’s death
Socialbites.ca sought comment from acquaintances of the priest believed to be involved in the murder. They described him as kind and peaceful, yet prone to depressive episodes. One commentator said the priest had a volatile mood, often presenting innovative ideas before withdrawing and avoiding discussion. They noted that during thesis preparation, signs of serious depression appeared, including weight loss, increased confusion, and even gray hair. Another source described Rassokha as a sensitive man who cried easily, even after a kitten’s death, and did not seem to have a harsh disposition on the surface. A friend recalled that he appeared sociable and well-liked by teachers, with no obvious negative traits mentioned.
“Teacher and nun hatred”
On December 13, 2021, Vladislav Struzhenkov, a graduate of the Orthodox gymnasium in the Vvedensky Episcopal Monastery in Serpukhov, faced an explosion after a conflict with teachers and classmates. A plan to activate an improvised device during a morning prayer led to an explosion at the monastery entrance, injuring 13 people. A court later sentenced Struzhenkov to 13 years in prison. Preliminary information suggested that the motive behind the crime was hostility toward school teachers and nuns tied to personal animosity. A law enforcement source cited by Interfax mentioned revenge as a possible motive, and a TASS source echoed this assessment.