Ivankovo massacre

Following the triumph of the 1917 October Revolution, Vladimir Lenin declared the Decree on Land, which abolished private property and redistributed land among peasants. However, during the land redistribution process, Peter Grachev, a farmer from the village of Ivankovo, was unable to secure a particular plot of land he had been anticipating,[1] losing out to a neighboring farmer. Supposedly disheartened by this outcome, Grachev repeatedly stated: "Just wait and see; I'll get even with everybody."

After selling all his property and belongings and sending his wife to her relatives, on July 26, Peter Grachev burned down his neighbors' houses while they were working in the field and then lay in wait to ambush them on their return along the road leading back to the village of Obshchina. He proceeded to kill 17 villagers and also shot at firefighters who arrived from a nearby town, ultimately killing 12 horses.[2]

Following the attack, Grachev fled the scene but was later caught by the local state militia. He was found to be mentally competent during his trial and was sentenced to ten years of solitary confinement. It was revealed during the trial that prior to the ambush, Grachev had murdered his entire family and household staff before setting the fires.