Tsar Nicholas II and his family, including Alexandra, their daughters Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and their son Alexei, were executed by Bolshevik Chekists in the Ipatiev House, where they had been imprisoned since their capture. The execution occurred in the context of the unfolding Russian Civil War, which began after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. The fate of the Tsar and his family was decided amid growing fears that their survival could embolden anti-Bolshevik forces or contribute to a restoration of the monarchy.

On the night of July 16, 1918, in a clandestine operation, the family was awakened and told they were being moved to safety. Instead, they were led to a basement, where they were confronted by armed guards. Despite being assured of their safety, the family was executed in a remarkably brutal manner. The dramatic nature of the events has led to various accounts and controversies regarding the exact details of the massacre. It has been noted that the executioners struggled to kill all the family members due to the presence of hidden jewels in their clothing, which made the task more difficult.

In the immediate aftermath, their bodies were disposed of in the woods near Yekaterinburg after being transported in a truck. The event not only solidified the Bolsheviks' brutal stance against former authorities but also marked the end of a 300-year Romanov dynasty, which had ruled Russia. Over time, the event has garnered substantial attention, with many viewing it as a symbol of the violent and radical changes the Bolsheviks enacted during their rise to power.