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Police have failed to solve the double killing of Ksenia Soltanova, 29, and Natalia Kuznetsova, 28, after they went for an evening picnic at a local beauty spot called Mount Uktus near Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Six weeks on from their deaths, local researcher Valentin Degteryov claims to have unearthed evidence that a secret sect could be behind their demise.

The two women had ordered a pizza and were last seen "laughing and happy" on August 25.

They had planned to remain at this spot to watch dawn come up, it was reported.

Soon afterwards, they were shot at close range by a man "wearing a bright torch on his head" – and dragged into a nearby forest.

Reports say the moment of the shooting was caught on CCTV but the killer’s face was not recognisable due to the bright light.

Police have not released this film.

Ksenia was killed immediately but her friend was badly wounded and died six days later.

(Image: WILL STEWART)

Police suspected the murder could have been linked to Ksenia having a dispute with a client at her bank – Sberbank, the largest in Russia.

There were reports that, shortly before the killings, bank chiefs in Moscow had ordered a probe into her branch for unknown reasons.

But police found no evidence of suspicious activity, according to law enforcement sources.

Now, Valentin Degteryov has revealed an alleged night-time Satanic ceremony at the exact spot where the women were killed six weeks ago.

(Image: WILL STEWART) (Image: WILL STEWART)

Grainy footage from cameras on a nearby chairlift show strange figures dressed in white coats holding lighted torches, Valentin claimed.

“All of them were dressed in long coats and held torches,” he said.

“They did not even mind a heavy shower.

“They managed to light a fire and held some sort of ceremony.”

He also claimed to have uncovered evidence that the spot has been used by Satanists since the Soviet era.

And there is a legend that it was the old site of a pagan temple, he said.

The women may have been lured there or found themselves in the way of a Satanic ritual.

Valentin has urged police to probe the link and to find and jail the killer.

He alleged that since he released the footage he has been contacted by a man claiming to have been involved.

“The killer has now decided to play games with me,” he said.