Series of explosions and arsons in Russia linked to scams
Series of incidents in Russia. According to media reports, there have been "several incidents involving pyrotechnic materials" in Moscow. An explosion occurred at a branch of the Russian Sberbank in St. Petersburg. Fireworks were set off at a post office in Khimki, and in the Leningrad region, a man "bombarded" the post office with Molotov cocktails.
In Russia, there have been about 20 cases of arson and explosions in a week. Most often, people set fire to Sberbank ATMs.
Series of arsons, explosions, and incidents
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that the suspects act on the orders of "unknown individuals" with whom they contacted by phone or through online messengers. The police refer to them as "foreign supervisors," suggesting that Ukrainian services are behind the attacks.
On Saturday, the media reported a series of cases.
The first one took place at the "Fort" shopping centre in the Otradnoye district. A retired woman set off fireworks there, which caused panic among visitors. During questioning, the woman testified that she transferred $1,700 CAD to "Ukrainian scammers" who allegedly forced her to set off the pyrotechnics. As a result of the incident, shops in the shopping centre were closed, and visitors were evacuated.
In Korolyov, near Moscow, a 63-year-old man set off fireworks in a resident service centre (MFC) located in the "Helios" shopping mall. No one was injured, but windows were damaged, and the ceiling caught fire.
The man then attempted to repeat a similar "performance" at a police station but was apprehended on the spot.
Another incident occurred in Khimki, where an unknown individual set off fireworks at the "Russian Post" branch. According to Shot, the perpetrator fled the scene. No one was injured, and more severe damage was avoided.
Meanwhile, in St. Petersburg, in the Krasnogvardeysky district, an explosion took place at a Sberbank branch.
According to Shot, the incident might also have been caused by pyrotechnic materials.
Russian media have published recordings of the moment the ATMs were set on fire. They show a retired woman who presumably first doused the area with gasoline and then clumsily set it on fire.
An explosion occurred. The condition of the woman is unknown. It is possible that pyrotechnic materials were also present in the room.
In the Leningrad region, meanwhile, a man bombarded the post office with Molotov cocktails. The 32-year-old arsonist claimed he was urged to do it by "Ukrainian supervisors."
Wave of arsons and mysterious phone calls
On December 20 at 8:00 AM EST, two ATM arsons were recorded in Moscow, which – according to Mash – were allegedly carried out "on the orders of Ukrainian call centres." One of the cases took place in Tushino, the other at a bank on Korovinskaya Street.
The day before at 8:00 AM EST, a similar incident happened on Klyazminskaya Street. Additionally, at a bank in the town of Zheleznodorozhny, a 19-year-old student set off a fireworks installation. According to Mash, "Ukrainian scammers" extorted $8,600 CAD from him, after which the young man committed the act.
