After serving in the army, Gritsenko began working for the militsiya (Soviet police), believing that his profession would quash his self-doubt.
After some time, he was fired from the police forces for his drunkenness, after which he committed a murder and received 8 years of imprisonment.
According to the killer, his victim was a prostitute who wanted to rob him, after which he killed her with a blow from a frying pan.
Gritsenko committed all his attacks in Zelenograd's urban forest during the day when people were returning from work.
Local newspapers began pressuring the authorities, and facial composites were hung throughout Zelenograd.
Anatoly Sukhov, who was a bus driver, wounded the killer and waited for the arrival of the authorities.