The group of family and friends had been celebrating a birthday (Picture: East2West)

A birthday party turned into a slaughter after nine Ukrainians were shot dead ‘by Russian troops’.

The group of family and friends were killed when soldiers allegedly demanded to take over their house in Volnovakha, a town in Russian-occupied Ukraine.

Natalya Kapkanets, 29, and her husband Andrey, along with their two children, Nastya, said to be ten, and Nikita, four, were among the dead.

Edward Kapkanets, 53, his wife Tatyana, 51, son Alexander, 25, his wife Ekaterina, and her brother Dmitry Khotinsky, 20, also died, according to Baza.

Reports claimed Andrey Kapkanets was in a dispute with Chechen forces within Putin’s army.

The Chechens allegedly wanted to use the family’s house in Volnovakha, which has been occupied by Russia since March last year.

Russian soldier Stanislav Rau (right) has also been detained on suspicion of murdering the group (Picture: East2West News)

Eduard, Nastya, and Tatyana Kapkanets were slaughtered in their home (Picture: East2West News)

Andrey and Natalya Kapkanets were killed alongside their children (Picture: East2West News)

Alexander Kapkanets and Ekaterina Khotinskaya were among the dead(Picture: East2West News)

Dmitry Khotinsky was killed while celebrating at the birthday party (Picture: East2West News)

Horrific photos showed the group lying dead in their beds, holding onto one another.

Advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, Pyotr Andryushchenko, said that based on the wounds, shooting accuracy and because the lights were turned off in the house, the murderers likely used thermal imaging.

Multiple theories have emerged – one being that a single Russian soldier went on the rampage and killed all nine people, and commanders initially sought to cover up the bloodbath.

Ukrainian Parliament Ombudsman for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said: ‘There is no doubt that the blood-stained hands of Russians are involved.

‘Just like traces of Russian torture were found in Bucha, Irpin, Izyum, and other Ukrainian cities where the ‘liberators’ were present.’

A local source claimed a Russian serviceman had a grievance against Andrey, and killed all nine victims when the family was gathered celebrating a relative’s birthday.

Anton Sopov, 21, a Russian serviceman, has been detained (Picture: East2West News)

Tatyana Kapkanets was brutally murdered while attending the party (Picture: East2West News)

The joyous occasion ended in tragedy (Picture: East2West News)

Hundreds of mourners attended the funerals (Picture: RIA Novosti)

The family friend told ASTRA: ‘Higher-ups arrived at the scene immediately and started trying to cover it all up, the neighbours were told to stay quiet.’

Others suggested more than one uniformed Russian soldier was involved.

A distant relative said: ‘Servicemen riding bikes killed them, and all of the [victims] were lying in bed, so it was done when they were sleeping.’

The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal probe into the mass murder.

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The committee said: ‘The investigative bodies…are establishing the circumstances of the murder of nine residents of the city of Volnovakha, including two children, whose bodies were found in a private residential building with gunshot wounds.

‘The persons involved in the commission of this crime are being identified.’

‌Petro Andriushchenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol, said this was ‘the worst crime of the Russians since the start of their occupation, and one that they are no longer trying to hide.’

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The group of family and friends were killed when soldiers allegedly demanded to take over their house in Volnovakha, a town in Russian-occupied Ukraine.