Ruslan Rakhimovich Khamarov was born in 1973 in Berdiansk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. His father abandoned the family in 1981, converting to Islam and relocating to Makhachkala. In 1985, his mother committed suicide by jumping under a train. Consequently, Khamarov spent much of his youth in an orphanage and later attended a vocational school, graduating in 1991. 

That same year, he was convicted of theft and sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, gaining release in 1993. Between 1993 and 1997, he resided in Zaporizhia, engaging in repeated thefts and spending time in a psychiatric hospital from 1997 to 2000. After his release, he returned to Berdiansk, where relatives provided him with accommodation, though he remained unemployed. ​

Khamarov's killing spree commenced in November 2000, targeting women he met in parks, bars, or dance venues. He would invite them to his residence, consume vodka until they lost self-control, and initiate sexual contact. Subsequently, he would retrieve a homemade knife, hammer, or bottle, returning to inflict fatal blows on his victims. After the murders, he engaged in necrophilic acts before disposing of the bodies in a well. Despite his unkempt appearance, Khamarov had little difficulty attracting women. Between November 2000 and February 2003, he murdered 11 women and girls.

His final victim, 17-year-old mother Polina Izvekova, was killed on February 24, 2003. Her mother reported her missing three days later. On March 1, 2003, police discovered Izvekova's body in Khamarov's well. Upon arrest, Khamarov confessed, revealing the presence of ten additional bodies. A psychological evaluation deemed him sane during the murders. Consequently, on February 9, 2004, in a closed court session due to one victim being a minor, Khamarov was convicted under articles 115 (parts 1 and 2 - killing of two or more persons) and 141 (robbery) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, receiving a life imprisonment sentence.