Two men extorted cryptocurrency from a 21-year-old Ukrainian and set him on fire in his car

Two people have been arrested in Vienna on suspicion of murdering a 21-year-old Ukrainian man whose body was found in a completely burnt-out car on the night of November 27.

According to Austrian media, the Mercedes was discovered by passersby around midnight in the Donaustadt area, prompting rescue services to be called. After the fire was extinguished, the man’s body was found in the back seat. A forensic examination determined that death was caused by blunt force trauma, with possible causes including suffocation or heatstroke. Officials in Austria have determined that the fire was deliberately set, likely using a starting agent.

Law enforcement officials believe that the victim was caught, forced into the car, and held there for about four hours before being killed. During this time, he was forced to transfer a large amount of cryptocurrency to the attackers’ account.

According to the Kyiv District Court of Odessa, Austrian law enforcement agencies suspect two detainees of kidnapping a Ukrainian, extorting money, and premeditated murder. After transferring the funds, the suspects doused the victim with gasoline and set him on fire along with the car.

The court in Odessa ruled to temporarily detain the detainees for 40 days pending Austria’s request for their extradition. It is not yet clear why the Odessa court was assigned to consider this case.

The investigation is ongoing, as is the process of identifying the deceased through DNA analysis. Reportedly, his family, who live abroad, reported his disappearance on Thursday night, and shortly after that, law enforcement officers confirmed his death.

As a reminder, NABU and Austrian law enforcement officers conducted a search of the estate of Denys Komarnytsky, a former defendant in high-profile cases in Kyiv, in particular a luxurious villa in a prestigious district of Vienna.