Acid, Bullets, and Fear: Violence Spreads Beyond Russia’s Frontline

In this episode of From Russia with Fear, we examine three shocking stories that reveal how violence is becoming part of everyday life in modern Russia. A former soldier returning from the war in Ukraine brutally attacks his ex-girlfriend with a knife, a signal pistol, and acid after months of stalking and threats. In Saint Petersburg, a Mariinsky Theatre performer shoots an 11-year-old boy for playing the saxophone outside his window. And in the Russian Far East, police officers mistakenly enter the wrong property and kill a family dog during a botched operation. These stories expose a country where aggression, impunity, and trauma are no longer confined to the battlefield — they are spreading into homes, streets, and neighborhoods across Russia.